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Try-scoring ace Jordan on All Blacks bench for Argentina Test, Savea to captain

Try-scoring ace Jordan on All Blacks bench for Argentina Test, Savea to captain

Try-scoring ace Jordan on All Blacks bench for Argentina Test, Savea to captain

Will Jordan in the All Blacks’ attack. (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images)

  • Will Jordan returns to the All Blacks’ bench for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Wellington.
  • TJ Perenara, who is back in form, starts in the scrumhalf position.
  • Wellington-born forward Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks, while original captain Scott Barrett is out with a finger injury.
  • For more rugby news visit: special section.

Prolific goal scorer Will Jordan has been named on the bench for the New Zealand Rugby Championship opening match against Argentina in Wellington on Thursday, while TJ Perenara will start in the scrum-half position after returning from injury.

Jordan, who can play both wing and fullback, scored 31 Test goals for the All Blacks but the 26-year-old has been out of Test rugby since last year’s World Cup final due to a shoulder injury.

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Perenara returns to action against the Pumas on Saturday after recovering from a knee injury he suffered in the first Test match against England last month.

Wellington-born forward Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks, while original captain Scott Barrett is out with a finger injury.

“It’s a special night for Ardie to lead the team in his hometown and it’s great to have TJ and Will back in the team,” New Zealand coach Scott Robertson said.

“We know Argentina will come to the Test with physicality and passion and we are ready for the challenge.”

Anton Lienert-Brown moves into midfield, replacing Rieko Ioane, who also drops to the bench.

In the absence of Barrett and the calf-injured Patrick Tuipulotu, Auckland Blues’ Sam Darry will join Waikato Chiefs forward Tupou Vaa’i in the new-look second row.

The All Blacks have plenty of options in attack, with two-time World Player of the Year Beauden Barrett at fullback and Damian McKenzie at centre-back.

New Zealand team:

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Mark Tele’a, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 TJ Perenara, 8 Ardie Savea (captain), 7 Dalton Papali’i, 6 Ethan Blackadder, 5 Sam Darry, 4 Tupou Vaa’i, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan De Groot

Subs: 16 Asafo Aumua, 17 Ofa Tu’ungafasi, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Cortez Ratima, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Will Jordan

Robertson was on the sidelines to watch Jordan score a try for his province in Christchurch last Saturday, with the All Blacks’ speedster completing a 60-minute run to prove his fitness.

“He’s had a commercial trial and the prospects are good. He’s in good shape, fit and ready to play,” Robertson said of Jordan.

“Beauden has been outstanding, so for Jordan to come off the bench and make an impact will be special.”

New Zealand’s recent run in Wellington has been bleak, with the All Blacks winless in their last four Test matches in the capital.

They lost and drew against South Africa in 2018 and 2019, then drew with Australia in 2020 and lost to Ireland in 2022.

“It’s a bitter truth that we didn’t perform well in Wellington,” admitted Savea.

“For us, there is no talking about that. We just talk about the preparation for each day and hopefully we can get the win on Saturday.”

The hosts are reluctant to repeat their shocking home defeat against Argentina in 2022, with Pumas goalkeeper Emiliano Boffelli awarded six penalties in a match his team won 25-18.

The Test match on Saturday will start at 09:05 (South Australian time).