Brodie Retallick to Captain All Blacks against Argentina | Daily News

Brodie Retallick to Captain All Blacks against Argentina

Argentina earned their first-ever win against New Zealand last season in the annual southern hemisphere competition.
Argentina earned their first-ever win against New Zealand last season in the annual southern hemisphere competition.

Lock forward Brodie Retallick would Captain New Zealand for the first time in the absence of Ardie Savea when the All Blacks play Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Australia's Gold Coast on Sunday.

Loose forward Savea suffered a head knock in the 38-21 defeat of the Wallabies in Perth last weekend and was replaced at the back of the scrum by Luke Jacobson.

Asafo Aumua will make his first Test start at hooker in place of Codie Taylor, who also suffered a head knock against the Wallabies, while prop Joe Moody was named on the bench for his first match of the year after recovering from foot surgery.

All Blacks Head Coach Ian Foster said both Savea and Taylor had passed concussion protocols and could have played but he had erred on the side of caution.

"It's been nice to have the luxury of being able to put them in the grandstand this week and in the next two or three weeks have a really energetic squad," he said. Retallick - the 2014 World Player-of-the-Year - has missed the past two seasons of Super Rugby after an 18-month sabbatical in Japan.

"It's a chance for Brodie to have a different little extra task," said Foster.

"He's back, he's confident and he's got a smile on his face. He's really comfortable in his role and the boys want to follow him."In other changes, scrum half T. J. Perenara is promoted from the bench to partner fly half Beauden Barrett while Sevu Reece and George Bridge will start on the wings in place of Will Jordan and Rieko Loane.

Full-back Jordie Barrett retained his place in the back three after successfully appealing against the red card he was shown against Australia.

(Agencies)

 


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