All Blacks team named for la plata test against pumas,,,

The All Blacks team to play Argentina in the Investec Rugby Championship match at Estadio Ciudad de La Plata in La Plata, Argentina, on Saturday 29 September has been named.
 

The team is as follows: (with Test caps in brackets)

Starting XV:

1. Tony Woodcock (89)
2. Andrew Hore (69)
3. Owen Franks (38)
4. Luke Romano (5)
5. Samuel Whitelock (32)
6. Liam Messam (14)
7. Richie McCaw - captain (110)
8. Kieran Read (42)
9. Aaron Smith (7)
10. Daniel Carter (89)
11. Julian Savea (4)
12. Ma'a Nonu (70)
13. Conrad Smith (60)
14. Cory Jane (35)
15. Israel Dagg (19)

Reserves:

16. Keven Mealamu (97)
17. Charlie Faumuina (2)
18. Brodie Retallick (7)
19. Sam Cane (2)
20. Piri Weepu (63)
21. Aaron Cruden (15)
22. Ben Smith (7)

All Blacks vice-captain Daniel Carter has returned to the starting XV, with the first five-eighth recovering from the calf injury that kept him out of the All Blacks last Test against South Africa 12 days ago. Aaron Smith is at halfback with Piri Weepu on the bench together with Aaron Cruden and Ben Smith. There is just one change to the forwards bench with loose forward Sam Cane making his first match day 22 appearance in the Investec Rugby Championship.

All Blacks Head Coach Steve Hansen said: "We have huge respect for the Pumas, who have shown in the tournament just how good they are, and we are expecting even more from them this weekend as they are playing at home in front of their passionate fans."

"The team has really enjoyed the build-up in Buenos Aires and the culture that the country has to offer, but we know that it will be down to business on Saturday and the team are excited by that challenge," he added.

there are two pleasant surprises IMO,
1) charlie continues to keep ben of the bench he has long made his own
2) sam cane gets his first IRC run

hope cane hasnt lost the mojo that crushed the irish spirits, cos when McCaw goes on his sabbatical, he is likely to be the successor.

and i hope carter has healed, cos our backline looks more in control with him calling the shots.
cruden hasnt been bad during the IRC and when carter was injured, but it would be silly to say we looked anywhere near in control.
i still got plenty of faith in cruden and to be fair, there were other factors involved too, but im very stoked to have carter starting and cruden on the bench.

the last two tests against the pumas and the Boks i have noticed a drop ion intensity from our forwards, this is something that IMO they need to address big time and for the love of God will the other forwards please step up and not let McCaw do EVERYTHING again, hes 31 going 22 if his performances were anything to go by.
on the plus side, McCaw dosent have too many games left before his sabbatical, so hes going to play hungrier then ever and i wouldnt be surprised to see him out work the entire pumas and Bok loose forward trio again like he did in NZ.
All Blacks by 30.

GO ALL BLACKS!!!