All Blacks Head Coach Scott Robertson, along with Assistant Coaches Scott Hansen, Jason Holland, Leon MacDonald, and Jason Ryan, have announced their squad for the second match of the 2024 Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship against Argentina at Eden Park in Auckland.
Injuries have sidelined Ethan de Groot (neck), Scott Barrett (finger surgery), Patrick Tuipulotu (calf), Stephen Perofeta (calf), and Luke Jacobson (hamstring).
The All Blacks will see four changes to their starting lineup, highlighted by the return of veteran loose forward Sam Cane to the reserves.
The backline features three changes, with Caleb Clarke and Will Jordan starting on the left and right wings, respectively. Rieko Ioane returns to the No.13 jersey. This match marks Jordan’s first start of the season after recovering from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the first three Tests. The 26-year-old will wear the No.14 jersey for the 26th time. Clarke returns to the squad following an impressive performance against Fiji in San Diego in July.
Ioane’s move to centre sees Anton Lienert-Brown shift to the reserves, where he will offer depth alongside wing Mark Tele’a and halfback Cortez Ratima.
In the forward pack, Tamaiti Williams earns his third Test start at loose head prop in place of the injured de Groot. Williams previously started in the All Blacks’ 47-5 victory over Fiji in San Diego and during a 23-20 win against Australia in Dunedin in 2023.
Captain Ardie Savea will lead the side from No.8, with Dalton Papali’i and Ethan Blackadder completing the loose trio. Cane, making his first appearance in 2024, will have the chance to add to his 95 Test caps from the bench.
All Blacks match-day 23 (Test caps in brackets)
1. Tamaiti Williams (8)
2. Codie Taylor (88) (Vice Captain)
3. Tyrel Lomax (35)
4. Tupou Vaa’i (29)
5. Sam Darry (2)
6. Ethan Blackadder (12)
7. Dalton Papali’i (35)
8. Ardie Savea (85) (Captain)
9. TJ Perenara (83)
10. Damian McKenzie (51)
11. Caleb Clarke (21)
12. Jordie Barrett (61) (Vice Captain)
13. Rieko Ioane (72)
14. Will Jordan (32)
15. Beauden Barrett (127)
16. Asafo Aumua (10)
17. Ofa Tu’ungafasi (60)
18. Fletcher Newell (17)
19. Josh Lord (5)
20. Sam Cane (95)
21. Cortez Ratima (3)
22. Anton Lienert-Brown (74)
23. Mark Tele’a (12)
