All Blacks team: Returning Wallace Sititi only on the bench as Scott Robertson makes bold call with debutant
Wallace Sititi in action for the All Blacks and Chiefs back-rower Simon Parker, who will make his Test debut.
Wallace Sititi is set to make his first All Blacks appearance since last November but it will not be from the start after he was named on the bench.
The 22-year-old was arguably the big positive for New Zealand in 2024, but he has struggled with injury in 2025 and missed the opening few months of the Chiefs’ Super Rugby Pacific season.
Although Sititi returned for the run-in, he missed out on the July series against France after picking up another issue.
The back-rower is now fit, however, and has returned to the 23 but he may have to wait until the second period to get on the field.
Instead, the number eight position has been filled by rookie Simon Parker, who will make his international debut against Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Ardie Savea back at seven
With Parker included at the base of the scrum, Ardie Savea moves back to openside flanker while Tupou Vaa’i continues at blindside.
The rest of the All Blacks pack is unchanged as Fabian Holland and captain Scott Barrett continue at lock with Fletcher Newell, Ethan de Groot and Codie Taylor, who earns his 100th cap, in the front-row.
“Codie is a great All Black. He carries a huge amount of mana in our group and it’s important we put out a performance that makes him and his whānau proud in his 100th Test,” head coach Scott Robertson said.
“The way he carries himself and the example he sets are testament to him as a person and he will front this week in the same way he has for the past 99 Tests.
“Equally, it’s a special day for Simon and his family. He’s earned his selection through performance and consistency. He’s a big, physical man, and he’s ready to make an impact.”
Behind the scrum, they have kept the same backline despite their issues in attack last weekend. That means Robertson has kept faith in Billy Proctor at centre and Rieko Ioane on the wing.
Proctor once again combines with Jordie Barrett in the midfield while Ioane is in a back three that also features Will Jordan and Sevu Reece.
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The half-back partnership which proved effective last weekend also retain their places as Beauden Barrett and Cortez Ratima line up in the key decision-making positions.
Meanwhile, on the bench, that is where Sititi and fellow injury returnee, Tamaiti Williams, reside, and they are joined by Samisoni Taukei’aho, Pasilio Tosi and Josh Lord as the forward cover.
Du’Plessis Kirifi, who impressed at openside in the Rugby Championship opener, therefore misses out on the 23 as the All Blacks continue to resist a 6-2 split.
Finlay Christie, Damian McKenzie and Quinn Tupaea, who is preferred to Timoci Tavatavanawai, are the backline replacements and complete the squad.
All Blacks squad to face Argentina
All Blacks: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (c), 3 Fletcher Newell 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie
Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Estado Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 18:10 local (09:10 NZST, 22:10 BST, 21:10 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Morné Ferreira (SARU)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Damon Murphy (RA)
