All Blacks team: Rieko Ioane DROPPED, Scott Robertson’s favourite starts as tight-five stocks bare for Argentina clash
All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson and centre Rieko Ioane, who has been dropped to the bench.
Rieko Ioane has paid the price for his performances against England after being dropped from the All Blacks XV to face Argentina on Saturday.
Scott Robertson’s men begin their Rugby Championship in Wellington and the head coach has made a few alterations from the mid-year series with the Red Rose.
Some of those are enforced, such as at lock, where both captain Scott Barrett and Patrick Tuipulotu are out injured. Tupou Vaa’i and Sam Darry come into the side as their respective replacements.
However, the big call is at centre where Ioane has been moved down to the bench after New Zealand’s attack stuttered in July.
Ardie Savea captains the squad in the absence of second-row and he will once again line up at number eight this weekend.
“We’ve laid a solid foundation through the first three Tests of the year and prepared well this week for what will be a physical Test against Argentina,” new skipper Savea said.
Robertson wields the axe
The current World Rugby Player of the Year is joined in the back-row by Ethan Blackadder, who gets the nod at blindside flanker and was adored by Robertson when they were both at the Crusaders.
Youngster Samipeni Finau, who played in both matches against England, has been dropped from the squad altogether after failing to make an impression last month.
Dalton Papali’i completes the loose trio, while the front-row sees Ethan de Groot, Codie Taylor and Tyrel Lomax once again combine.
Behind the scrum, Ioane is the big omission from the XV, with the centre criticised last month for his skill set as the All Blacks failed to get past England’s rush defence.
As a result, Anton Lienert-Brown comes into the midfield and joins Jordie Barrett at centre, who are outside injury-returnee TJ Perenara and Damian McKenzie at half-back.
McKenzie gets the help of the experienced Beauden Barrett in the playmaking slots. The 33-year-old was always likely to start at full-back after his displays off the bench in the 2-0 win over the Red Rose, but the injury to Stephen Perofeta made sure of that decision.
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On the bench, they have an excellent and trusted front-row impact from Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi and Fletcher Newell.
Josh Lord will cover lock after their injury crisis in the second-row while Wallace Sititi gets another chance following the injury to Luke Jacobson.
Cortez Ratima, Ioane and the returning Will Jordan, who has played just one pre-season friendly since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, comes into the squad.
“It’s a special night for Ardie leading the team in his hometown and it’s great to have TJ and Will back in the mix,” Robertson said.
“Once again there were some close selection calls but we’ve picked a squad to win the key contests and perform on Saturday.
“We know Argentina will bring a lot of physicality and passion to the Test and we’re ready for that challenge.”
All Blacks side to face Argentina
All Blacks: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea (c), 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan De Groot
Replacements: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Will Jordan
Date: Saturday, August 10
Venue: Sky Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19:05 local (08:05 BST, 07:05 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
READ MORE: Damian McKenzie: ‘Ferrari’ Will Jordan being brought ‘out of the garage at the right time’
