All Blacks Emoni Narawa and Anton Lienert-Brown - New Zealand All Blacks training at Go Media, Mt Smart Stadium, - Auckland - New Zealand. 10 July 2024 © Copyright photo: Brett Phibbs / www.photosport.nz Photo: Brett Phibbs
The All Blacks are favourites to beat Argentina on Saturday night in Wellington but the hosts have plenty of reasons not to be complacent.
Los Pumas stunned the All Blacks 25-18 in Christchurch in 2022 to claim their first victory on New Zealand soil and the pain of that defeat still stings for vice-captain Jordie Barrett.
"They got us on the nose a couple of years ago. Started well, kicked plenty of penalty goals and started their campaign well so we're doing everything we can to make sure that doesn't happen again," Barrett said.
Brothers Jordie Barrett and Beauden Barrett after winning the Rugby World Cup France 2023, Ireland v New Zealand All Blacks quarter final match at Stade de France, 14 October 2023. Photo: Photosport / Andrew Cornaga
Jordie's older brother and captain Scott Barrett is set to miss the next two tests against Argentina with Ardie Savea taking over as All Blacks skipper.
With lock Patrick Tuipulotu also out with injury, Tupou Vai'i is in the second row with Sam Darry, who will make his second test start.
Outside back Will Jordan is set to make his long-awaited return via the reserves with Beauden Barrett retained at fullback.
Photo: Matt Impey / www.photosport.nz
Coach Scott Robertson insists Jordan is ready for test rugby despite only having played a pre-season game for Tasman since returning from a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the entire Super Rugby season.
"He's in good nick. He's fit and he's ready to go. Beauden has been exceptional and to have Will Jordan making an impact coming off the bench is special."
Robertson has selected Anton Lienert-Brown in the midfield over Rieko Ioane with the latter, the first choice centre at last year's World Cup, on the bench.
Lienert-Brown impressed in the All Blacks win over Fiji last month in San Diego and will combine with Jordie Barrett against the Pumas.
"I had a conversation with Rieko," Robertson said.
"It's a competitive position. We've got two or three players now that we can pick. It's a performance based sport and everyone's got areas to work and and we've gone with Anton."
Lienert-Brown is a veteran of more than 70 tests but he still cherishes every start and he has been drawing inspiration from New Zealand athletes at the Paris Olympics.
"I've been watching it every night. You get to see athletes at their peak," Lienert-Brown said.
"A lot of those sports there's not a lot of money involved but the athletes make huge sacrifices so I've got a lot of respect for what they do."
The All Blacks, who thumped Argentina in last year's World Cup semi-finals, are favourites to start their Rugby Championship title defence with victory.
Rodrigo Bruni is tackled by Ardie Savea during the Rugby World Cup semi-final match between Argentina and New Zealand at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis. Photo: AFP / Franck Fife
That favouritism could breed complacency but Robertson is confident his side won't lose focus.
"They had an incredible game against us (in 2022). They're passionate, they've got a hell of a forward pack, they're well coached. You don't get to the final four of a World Cup without having a serious test team."
Another reason New Zealand fans might be on edge is the team's recent record in Wellington.
The All Blacks are winless in their last four tests in the capital.
Jordie Barrett thinks it's time that lean run came to an end.
"It'd be nice to flip that around and put that to bed a little bit," Barrett said.
"But it has come to surface due to the quality of opposition when we've played Wellington tests, they've been big tests. It's no different to what we're facing this weekend in Argentina so we need to start well."
The All Blacks will need to start the Rugby Championship well, with two matches against Argentina in New Zealand considered must wins before the defending champions head to South Africa for back to back tests against the world champions.
