All Blacks: Ian Foster provides reasoning for the timing of substitutions

All Blacks head coach Ian Foster has given reasoning for the timing of his substitutions in their loss to Argentina in Christchurch on Saturday.

After just being backed by New Zealand Rugby, the pressure will be firmly back on Foster after his side lost 25-18 to an inspired Los Pumas side. The historic win was Argentina’s first on New Zealand soil.

Questionable change

The timing of Foster‘s changes has raised eyebrows, particularly taking off red-hot hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho, who has been one of the best All Blacks players this year, early in the second half.

The coach put the decision down to a complete front-row change due to both props needing to be subbed, and it was a tactic that worked in South Africa.

“Ethan had a tightening calf and Tyrel had a quad knock. Just talking to the coaches, there was a belief that when we changed the two props that changing the hooker, that combination was something that worked for us [against South Africa in Johannesburg], and that’s why we went that way,” Foster said.

Meanwhile, Foster was also questioned about putting Stephen Perofeta on for a 55-second debut in a losing cause.

“We considered all those options,” Foster said.

“But I guess the subbing became a little bit niggly at the end, in particular with the yellow card [to Shannon Frizell] and the nature and position of that.

“Again, Stephen was a guy we really wanted to get on, we think he can inject stuff into our attack with his footwork and his second receiver role. But it was a game that didn’t quite flow that way.”

Struggling veteran

Substitute hooker Codie Taylor did not hit his straps and was blown for not throwing straight late on in the game when the All Blacks were trying to make a charge. However, Foster defended the Crusader and believes he will get the fundamentals right.

“Look, Codie is working hard, trying hard,” Foster said.

“When the set piece doesn’t go well in the last 15 minutes it’s easy to point the finger at the hooker when you lose a few lineouts. We’ll dig down into that, but he’s with everyone, he’s just working his butt off to try and get things right.”

READ MORE: Rugby Championship: Outstanding Argentina stun the All Blacks to put Ian Foster back under pressure