The All Blacks are on a mission to avoid rare back-to-back defeats and Argentina’s Pumas could well feel the backlash on Saturday.
The mighty ABs have not lost successive Tests in almost a decade, and skipper Sam Cane admits they do not plan on following up last week’s shock 24-22 defeat by the Wallabies with another Rugby Championship slip-up.
“We obviously weren’t overly proud of last week’s performance and we came out of the review at the start of this week with some pretty clear focuses,” Cane said on Friday.
“So we’ll be going out there for sure to put in a much-improved performance and one that we can be proud of.
“I don’t feel I have to try and motivate the team as such to try and play well. They’ve got a bit of an edge about them already.”
The All Blacks have not tasted defeat in consecutive Tests since losing to South Africa and Australia on the spin in 2011.
Added to that, they have never succumbed to the Pumas – whose best result in 29 meetings with New Zealand was a draw in Buenos Aires back in 1985.
But the All Blacks are treating the South Americans with respect, coach Ian Foster naming a full-strength line-up for the clash at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium.
Taking no chances in trying to preserve their unbeaten record against the Pumas, Foster has recalled first-choice halves Richie Mo’unga and Aaron Smith, along with destructive winger Caleb Clarke, who all sat out last Saturday’s loss to Australia in Brisbane.
The Pumas are lining up for their first Test since thumping the USA more than a year ago, but Cane suspects the South Americans will be primed to go after two warm-up games against Australia A.
“Any team who have had a lot of preparation building up to a Test match and so much energy has gone into it, they’re always going to be a dangerous side,” Cane said.
“They’re the first Argentinian team to be playing and out representing their country this year, so they’ll go out with immense pride and we know how passionate they can be.
“So we’re expecting the first 20 minutes, particularly, for it to be all on.”
