All Black and Los Pumas teams named for Tri Nations clash
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The All Black and Los Pumas teams have been named for their Tri Nations Test at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney on Saturday 14 November.
The matchday 23 forward pack features the return of Joe Moody, who missed the last two Tests through HIA (head injury assessment) protocols. He will pack down alongside Dane Coles and Tyrel Lomax. Hooker Codie Taylor is on the bench alongside Alex Hodgman and Nepo Laulala, who has returned from parental leave. Patrick Tuipulotu, who missed the Brisbane Test with illness, has been named in the second row alongside Samuel Whitelock, with Tupou Vaa'i covering from the bench. The back row is Shannon Frizell at six, Captain Sam Cane in the seven jersey and Ardie Savea at number eight, with Hoskins Sotutu loose forward cover.
In the backs, Aaron Smith has been selected in the nine jersey, with Brad Weber on the bench as halfback cover, Richie Mo'unga is at ten, with Jack Goodhue and Anton Lienert-Brown the midfield combination. Caleb Clarke is on the left wing, Jordie Barrett moves to the right and Beauden Barrett is at fullback. Rieko Ioane and Damian McKenzie are the other reserve backs.
Los Pumas boss Mario Ledesma has named three new faces in the side to face the All Blacks. There are two potential debuts via the bench in second rower Santiago Grondona and flyhalf Lucio Cinti.
Meanwhile rookie Santiago Chocobares will make his debut at inside centre alongside Matias Orlando. Juan Imhoff starts on the right wing on his return to the test jersey for the first time since 2015 with Bautista Delguy and Santiago Carreras completing the back three. The tried and test combination of Tomas Cubelli and Nicolas Sanchez make up the halfback pairings with Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Cordero providing cover on the bench.
Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo, Julian Montoya and Francisco Gómez-Kodela make up the front row with Guido Petti and Matias Alemanno packing down in the second row. Pablo Matera captains the side with Marcos Kremer and Rodrigo Bruni completing the pack.
Stats and facts
* New Zealand and Argentina will be playing their 30th Test. The All Blacks have recorded 28 wins with one draw.
* Jordie Barrett's final conversion last weekend saw him surpass 100 points for the All Blacks. He joins Beauden as the only pair of brothers in worldwide rugby history to have each achieved more than 100 points in Test matches.
* Rieko Ioane has crossed for a try in each of his last two Test appearances and scored two tries in his last Test appearance against Argentina.