Mo'unga gets first test start against Los Pumas

Mo'unga gets first test start against Los Pumas

The All Blacks team has been named to play Argentina in the Rugby Championship Test at Trafalgar Park, Nelson, on Saturday 8 September.

Crusaders first five-eighth Richie Mo'unga is set make his first Test start at no.10 while halfback Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi is set to make his Test debut off the bench.

Elsewhere Nehe Milner-Skudder returns to the starting line up after for the first time after he was injured in the All Blacks clash with the Springboks in Cape Town in last year's Championship.

As well as Mo'unga and Tahuriorangi, other back changes in the matchday 23 see TJ Perenara named to start at halfback and Ben Smith move back to fullback.

In the forwards, Karl Tu'inukuafe starts at loosehead prop, in for the injured Joe Moody, and Tim Perry comes into the prop reserves. In the second row, Scott Barrett starts, with Sam Whitelock moving to the bench. Shannon Frizell will make his second Test start at blindside flanker, Ardie Savea is at seven, with Luke Whitelock coming into the loose forward reserves.


All Blacks 23 to face Argentina: 

 


All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: "While we've made a number of changes from our last outing, this is not a reflection on Argentina but rather a desire by us to grow the experience and depth of our squad.  Secondary to that, we also know that if we don't use the whole squad across a long season, we'll run out of steam later in the year.

"In making these changes, it also needs to be said that the high expectation we place on ourselves remains the same, regardless of who we've selected.  The All Blacks jersey demands this."

Hansen added: "We're very aware of the Argentinian challenge.  We know that they're hungry for Test success against the All Blacks and after their recent win over South Africa, they'll be coming here confident that they can achieve their desired goal.

"This means that we'll need to step up with our own response and be better than we were in our recent Test in Auckland.  We'll need to concentrate on setting a strong foundation throughout the 80 minutes, particularly in our set pieces and our strike plays, along with our defence.  Throughout the week we've concentrated on getting our personal and team processes right and delivering on these will also be key come Saturday."

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