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All Blacks ring in the changes as fresh starters take over
By Ben Spratt
Richie Mo'unga is among seven changes to the New Zealand team for this weekend's Rugby Championship clash with Argentina.
The All Blacks have won their first two matches - both against Bledisloe Cup rivals Australia - and coach Steve Hansen has taken the opportunity to hand starts to a number of fringe men.
Mo'unga comes in for Beauden Barrett, who he had been tipped to replace prior to the two-time World Rugby Player of the Year's scintillating four-try show against the Wallabies.
Sam Whitelock is another notable absentee, although he appears among the replacements, with Joe Moody injured and Liam Squire, Sam Cane, Aaron Smith, and Jordie Barrett also sitting out.
Captain Kieran Read remains in the side, as Nehe Milner-Skudder makes his first Test appearance of 2018.
Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi is set to make his New Zealand debut from the bench.
However, Hansen insists the changes to the side do not suggest a disrespect towards Argentina, believing the All Blacks must grow the squad and pace themselves across the season.
"While we've made a number of changes from our last outing, this is not a reflection on Argentina but rather a desire by us to grow the experience and depth of our squad," he said.
"Secondary to that, we also know that if we don’t use the whole squad across a long season, we’ll run out of steam later in the year.
"In making these changes, it also needs to be said that the high expectation we place on ourselves remains the same, regardless of who we've selected. The All Blacks jersey demands this."
New Zealand XV to face Argentina: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Jack Goodhue, Ngani Laumape, Waisake Naholo, Richie Mo'unga, TJ Perenara; Karl Tu'inukuafe, Codie Taylor, Owen Franks, Brodie Retallick, Scott Barrett, Shannon Frizell, Ardie Savea, Kieran Read (captain).
Replacements: Nathan Harris, Tim Perry, Ofa Tuungafasi, Sam Whitelock, Luke Whitelock, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
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Latest Comments
Reiko should be the dual winger guy as he should be used to playing either side given he's had to do both at 13 (pass and step left/right).
Maybe he has such a bad preference that that's why he's not a good center?
Go to commentsAgreed. And I don't have much more to say on it, but I had been having one thought that sprang to mind at the tail of this discussion, and that is that it's not all about Razor.
It's not about any coach being "right". I think a lot of selections can become defense and while it doesn't really apply here I really enjoyed that Andy Farrell just gave into the public demands and changed out his team for the change that had been asked for. Like why not? This is the countries team, keep them engaged. The whole reason i've only just finished watching the game was because I wasn't interested in watching any of the selected players against a team like Italy (still actually enjoyed the first half with the contest Italy made of it).
Faz leap frogs a younger half back into start. He hands the golden child the game over July's golden child. He gives an old winger a go, a new flanker and hooker. None of them really did any good, certainly not enough to suggest they should have been promoted above others, but who cares? You won, and you gave the country what they wanted, that's all that matters after all. It's for the country, not the one in charge who thinks they have to have their own pied piper tune playing.
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