With Cruden sent home, and Coles back home. Heres the probable team.
1. Wyatt Crockett 2. Nathan Harris 3. Owen Franks 4. Brodie Retillick 5. Jeremy Thrush 6. Steven Luatua 7. Richie Mccaw 8. Keiran Read 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beaudan Barratt 11. Julian Savea 12. Malakai Fekitoa 13. Conrad Smith 14. Ben Smith 15. Israel Dagg
16. Keven Mealamu 17. Joe Moody 18. Patrick Tuipolutu 19. Sam Cane 20. TJ Peranara 21. Colin Slade 22. Ryan Crotty 23. Corey Jane.
Still a Solid side Imo.
Does'nt look like All Black hooker Dane Coles will get a run in Argentina after all ....he's heading home to be at the birth of his first child. Makes you wonder why he left NZ in the first place?
After performing a haka to team-mates, a tradition for a player leaving the All Blacks camp, Dane Coles has left the team hotel bound for the airport and impending fatherhood.
Coles' earlier than expected departure will bring veteran Keven Mealamu into the starting role to face the Pumas this weekend.
It also means that the All Blacks debut for Bay of Plenty hooker Nathan Harris will most likely take place in La Plata as opposed to Johannesburg as previously planned.
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If Sam Whitelock and Jerome Kaino have proven their fitness to the selectors, and that looked the case at training yesterday, they're likely to come into the starting pack.
That would see Jeremy Thrush drop to the bench and see Liam Messam and Steven Luatua miss the test day 23, given Sam Cane's form and coach Steve Hansen's desire to carry three specialist locks against the Pumas.
