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Barrett out for Argentina Tests: Savea takes Captaincy

Barrett out for Argentina Tests: Savea takes Captaincy

All BlacksAugust 6, 2024

All Blacks assistant coach Jason Ryan has confirmed that Scott Barrett, the new captain, will miss the first two Lipovitan-D Rugby Championship Tests against Argentina.

The first Test is in Wellington at the weekend, where No8 Ardie Savea will be captain with hooker Codie Taylor and second five-eighths Jordy Barrett vice-captains. Harry Plummer has joined the squad as cover for Stephen Perofeta, who has a niggle.

Ryan said that Savea's experience as a leadership team member and vice-captain made him the obvious choice to replace Barrett.

Argentina will be a different test for the All Blacks compared to England and Fiji.

"Argentina brings a different intensity to the first three Tests that we've had, so we're looking to improve on the areas that we need to, and it should be a good contest. They've been playing well.

"They bring a lot of energy and like to play with momentum and [Marcos] Kremer and [Pablo] Matera are the big abrasive players at the breakdown.

"We've got to get into our rhythm pretty quick, but it is good to reconnect. The boys have done the training in this time off."


Having had a two-week break, it is important for the side to quickly pick up where it left off against Fiji in San Diego.

"You have always got to be evolving your game from week to week. We're always trying to tweak things. We've had a good look, a good preview on them today, but we're also concentrating on what we need to do a lot better."

The All Blacks learned a lot about their carrying and clean-out game and the need for momentum in those areas.

"We thought we were accurate around our decision-making, which was good. We're looking forward to building off our scrum and our set piece.

"The boys have come in really sharp. A few boys had good hit outs in the NPC pre-season games at the weekend."

While England's Maro Itoje tested their lineout, the All Blacks had a 98 per cent record in their lineouts, and they want to build on that. Argentina played to a different defensive system, which will be another test.

There will be more New Zealand influence among the visitors with Kenny Lynn added as an attack coach.

Ryan said he was a good thinker of the game. With Felipe Contepomi as head coach, however, he was not expecting too much different from Argentina's approach.

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