All Blacks coach Ian Foster has stuck to his guns for this week's second Test against Argentina in Hamilton, making no changes to his starting XV while tweaking his bench.
Foster is back under the pump from fans and media after his side suffered their first defeat to the Pumas on home soil last week in Christchurch, leaving him with a dire record of two wins and six losses in his last eight Tests in charge.
Despite that, he has stuck with the same starting 15 players for the rematch but injected experience into his bench with Dane Coles, Brodie Retallick and Beauden Barrett all added.
“We are obviously looking to build parts of our game and this week is another chance to do that," Foster said.
"This year’s Rugby Championship is extremely tight and that makes this weekend’s Test an exciting opportunity."
Coles' introduction sees an out-of-form Codie Taylor drop out of the squad while Retallick - fresh off a positive return from a fractured cheekbone with Hawke's Bay - will cover the locks in place of Tupou Vaa'i.
In another tweak to the reserve forwards, Dalton Papalii has been called in ahead of Akira Ioane for the loosies while Barrett also replaces a Blues teammate with his name next to the No.22 jersey over Stephen Perofeta.
"As a group, this has been a week of refining areas where we know we can be better," Foster said.
"It has been a good preparation in Hamilton so far and the hard work will need to continue so that we get a performance everyone can be proud of."
Meanwhile, Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to his lineup for Saturday’s match.
Lock Guido Petti, backrower Santiago Grondona, scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli and winger Santiago Cordero all are promoted from the bench to the starting 15.
In turn lock Matias Alemanno, scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou, flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez — a try-scorer in the first test — and winger Lucio Cinto drop from the starting lineup to the bench. Flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilleta joins the reserves, displacing Tomás Albornoz.
Cheika said beating New Zealand at home twice in a row would be a huge task.
“We know it’s difficult,” Cheika said “There’s a little bit there because Ireland were able to do it a couple of times this year so that give us some hope around how to look at doing it.
“We’ve tried to prepare and try that when it’s difficult we enjoy it. When the challenge is big or situation in a game is tough that we try and thrive in that moment.”
All Blacks v Argentina, Saturday September 3, 7pm, Hamilton
All Blacks: 15. Jordie Barrett, 14. Will Jordan, 13. Rieko Ioane, 12. David Havili, 11. Caleb Clarke, 10. Richie Mo'unga, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Ardie Savea, 7. Sam Cane [C], 6. Shannon Frizell, 5. Scott Barrett, 4. Sam Whitelock, 3. Tyrel Lomax, 2. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 1. Ethan de Groot
Reserves: 16. Dane Coles, 17. George Bower, 18. Fletcher Newell, 19. Brodie Retallick, 20. Dalton Papalii, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Beauden Barrett, 23. Quinn Tupaea
Argentina: 15. Juan Cruz Mallia, 14. Emiliano Boffelli, 13. Matias Moroni, 12. Matias Orlando, 11. Santiago Cordero, 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Pablo Matera, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Santiago Grondona, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Joel Sclavi, 2. Julian Montoya (captain), 1. Thomas Gallo.
Reserves: 16. Santiago Socino, 17. Mayco Vivas, 18. Eduardo Bello, 19. Matias Alemanno, 20. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 21. Gonzalo Bertranou, 22. Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23. Lucio Cinto
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