Foster calls for fearless All Blacks display to avenge Pumas loss

New Zealand head coach Ian Foster is under pressure after a string of poor performances - AFP

HAMILTON, AFP: All Blacks Coach Ian Foster said Thursday that New Zealand will need to play without fear against Argentina in Hamilton today to avenge their shock defeat last weekend and prevent the humiliation of losing a fourth successive home Test.

The under-fire Foster surprised critics by naming the same starting players who lost 25-18 in Christchurch as the Pumas made history with their first victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Argentina coach Michael Cheika made four changes to his side, who he still labelled as “underdogs”, despite successive victories over Australia and New Zealand that took them top of the Rugby Championship table.

“For those that want blood, I guess we haven’t given it have we?” Foster said, explaining he doesn’t want his players to feel their places are constantly under threat after four defeats in six Tests in 2022, including a home series loss to Ireland.

“If you play under fear, you restrict your options, you restrict your thinking and what actually happens is you don’t get your game going,” Foster said.

Foster has overhauled his bench, recalling 298 caps worth of experience through hooker Dane Coles, lock Brodie Retallick, flanker Dalton Papali’i and fly-half Beauden Barrett.

Cheika dropped his lone Christchurch try-scorer, flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez, to the bench along with lock Matias Alemanno, wing Lucio Cinti and scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou.

Forwards Santiago Grondona and Matias Alemanno are recalled, along with experienced back Tomas Cubelli and Santiago Cordero.

Cheika laughed off suggestions that the Pumas would start as favourites, with last week’s historic result following a 48-17 dismantling of Australia in San Juan.

“Mate, we’re in New Zealand, playing against New Zealand,” he told reporters.