New Zealand field stars for Argentina clash
Thursday 8 September 2016 10:34, UK
New Zealand will field all their big guns for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Hamilton.
The All Blacks usually rotate their squad against the Pumas, but with Argentina beating South Africa and continually improving, coach Steve Hansen is taking no chances.
The return of a fit-again Ryan Crotty to the midfield is the only change from the starting side that completed back-to-back thrashings of Australia in the second round of the championship.
"We've got a young group from an experience point of view, we've got a young group from a leadership point of view," Hansen said.
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"So giving them the opportunity to keep rolling and driving things is a better reward for us than giving an individual some game time."
Hansen also acknowledged the Pumas have one of the toughest forward packs in world rugby by adding lock Luke Romano to his bench as an insurance policy should the powerful South American pack make life difficult.
New Zealand: 15 Ben Smith, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Malakai Fekitoa, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Aaron Smith, 1 Joe Moody, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Owen Franks, 4 Brodie Retallick, 5 Sam Whitelock, 6 Jerome Kaino, 7 Sam Cane, 8 Kieran Read (c).
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Luke Romano, 20 Ardie Savea, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Aaron Cruden, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown.
