Pressured coach Ian Foster made three changes to his pack on Thursday to take on Argentina. The All Blacks are desperate to avoid the shame of a third straight defeat.
The three-time world champion was scrutinized by fans and experts after shock losses to Australia and the Pumas in consecutive weeks during the Tri Nations.
If they fail to win in Newcastle, north of Sydney on Saturday, they will go down in history as the first New Zealand team to lose three straight since 1998.
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“I left the country in the lurch”
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Faced with an ax call after just five games, Foster shuffled his backpack to better cope with a physically imposing and greatly improved Argentine team that was a revelation.
Prop Nepo Laulala comes in the front row with Tyrel Lomax, while Castle Scott Barrett was preferred to Patrick Tuipulotu.
Loose striker Akira Ioane will start in jersey number six instead of Shannon Frizell after his test debut against Australia in Brisbane this month.
“We had a great week focusing on an important test,” said Foster.
“It’s exciting in the sense that we have the opportunity to pay off after our last game, and we also have the opportunity to win the Tri Nations.
“The team is determined to do well not only for ourselves but also for our families and friends at home and in our country,” he added.
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Fists fly! Tensions boil over
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You need to improve their discipline to stop the putrefaction especially a site that knows how to rub it the wrong way.
New Zealand had a reunion last week to find out what went wrong between the ages of 25 and 15 after the cougar humiliation in Sydney two weeks ago – their first loss to Argentina in 35 years.
That embarrassment followed the All Blacks, who rushed to Australia 24-22.
New Zealand (15-1) Beauden Barrett; Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, and Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo’unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (Capt), Akira Ioane; Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Substitutions: Codie Taylor, Karl Tu’inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan
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