Selection changes are coming for the All Blacks, with Tamaiti Williams and Wallace Sititi set to start the Test against Argentina in Buenos Aires and new lock and midfield cover required for the reserves bench.
Williams, back from a knee injury, and Sititi, an ankle issue, will likely start at loosehead prop and No.8 respectively on Sunday morning NZT as head coach Scott Robertson manages their workload after neither were available for last month’s three Tests against France.
Robertson this morning confirmed midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown and lock Patrick Tuipulotu were out of the Test due to head knocks after the pair took the field as second-half replacements during the weekend’s 41-24 victory in Cordoba.
Both men will be sent home, with Lienert-Brown showing concussion symptoms and Tuipulotu suffering a minor facial fracture that requires surgery which will rule him out for six weeks.
It comes after Tuipulotu’s previous injury issues with a broken jaw.
“He’s had a tough run,” Robertson said of Tuipulotu. “When he comes on, he has a great presence and makes great decisions. He carries so strongly and his lineout calling is invaluable. All those things we’ll miss. What a cameo he had at the weekend.”
The changes to the starting line-up, with Williams likely coming in for Ethan de Groot and Sititi for Du’Plessis Kirifi, with Ardie Savea moving from No.8 to openside flanker, may dissuade Robertson from tinkering too much elsewhere.
There is outside scrutiny on left wing Rieko Ioane and centre Billy Proctor as the backline suffered a lack of cohesion in the first Rugby Championship Test — but it looks like they will be given another opportunity at least.
The bench is less straightforward to predict, although de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho, Fletcher Newell, Finlay Christie and Damian McKenzie will probably feature there.
Josh Lord — in the squad as injury cover for the absent Luke Jacobson — could replace Tuipulotu. However, Robertson may be tempted to name two loose forwards in the form of Samipeni Finau, who could also fill in at lock, and Simon Parker, who could come in as a specialist No.8 cover for a chance to play his first Test.
Tupou Vaa’i, currently Robertson’s first-choice blindside flanker, is set to stay in the No.6 jersey but could move to lock if required as he did in Cordoba when Fabian Holland left the field.
Quinn Tupaea, Timoci Tavatavanawai and Leroy Carter are possibilities for midfield cover on the bench.
After an impressive performance from the pack, including during the final quarter, there is no doubt the backline needs to perform with better cohesion under pressure. Although, in saying that, fullback Will Jordan and right wing Sevu Reece could not have done much more.
Ioane, back to the No.11 jersey he made his own at the start of his Test career, has struggled to make an impact over three Tests there this year and could find himself back in his preferred No.13 jersey in the short to medium term as Proctor has struggled to make the transition from an excellent Super Rugby season.
For Robertson, though, the pair require more time.
“[Ioane’s] work rate and effort is incredible,” he said. “He leads a lot of our stats with a lot of efforts that we code. We’ve been impressed with him in that regard.
“What is he? Three tests in? He’ll get better with time and combinations. He adds a different flavour to that wing. He’s a big, tall man and the aerial game is really critical. He’s getting better each week.
“Billy has got all the skills and capabilities… sometimes it takes time. He’s just a pass away, he’s getting better every week in understanding the game and combinations.
“We’ve put a lot of time into him. It’s the ability to stay the course with him and trusting him.”
Robertson, buoyed by the pack’s scrummaging and mauling resurgence, was less keen to delve into the Springboks’ upset at the hands of the Wallabies in Johannesburg at the weekend. However, he did say of injured captain Siya Kolisi, set to miss the upcoming two-Test trip of New Zealand: “It’s obviously a loss – he’s their captain and spiritual leader. He’s a helluva man and player as well. They’ll miss him but they’ve got a lot of depth.”