WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) Flyhalf Beauden Barrett will start on the bench for unbeaten New Zealand in Saturday’s second Rugby Championship test against Argentina, handing the No. 10 jersey to regular fullback Damian McKenzie.
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Braydon Ennor, who missed the tests against Tonga and Fiji to undergo appendicitis surgery is back and so too is Ofa Tuungafasi, following his knee surgery. George Bower will also remain with the squad as injury cover for Joe Moody, who is back in the squad but is not expected to return to test rugby until after the Bledisloe Cup series. Samisoni Taukei’aho also stays with the All Blacks squad as cover for Asafo Aumua.
Andrew Cornaga
Ofa Tuungafasi is back in the All Blacks squad following a knee operation. Aumua who missed the last two tests and may play the opening round of the NPC to build his match fitness.
“That’s all part of the negotiation ploy I guess, but ultimately he’s back.” Foster said he was impressed with how the 29-year-old played in Japan for his NTT Red Hurricanes side, but would still need more rugby before the All Blacks open their campaign in a Bledisloe Cup encounter against Australia at Eden Park on August 7. “When he went to Japan, he had a clear focus from us,” the All Blacks coach said. “The good thing about a halfback going to Japan is that we want our halfbacks fast to the ruck . we monitored his progress over there and were pretty pleased with what we saw in that space. We know he’s a confrontational nine, a tough defender, he’s good over the ball, he’s ultra-competitive, so he’s done that for us for a long long time.