Kieran Read gives rookies Mo'unga and Frizell seal of approval

Kieran Read has reiterated the All Blacks‘ key focuses and given rookies Richie Mo’unga and Shannon Frizell the captain’s seal of approval ahead of Saturday’s Test against Argentina.

“It has been an awesome week,” Read said during the week. “The way we repay that is hopefully with an awesome performance. There’s a spark there and we need to make sure that we turn up with a great attitude and a lot of physicality as the Argentineans are here to come out and play hard. We know that so we will need to focus on what we bring.”

Crusaders teammate Mo’unga is set to start a Test for the first time on Saturday night, and Read is confident the young playmaker will put his best foot forward.

“He’s [Mo’unga] pretty calm and it is tough coming in and trying to run the ship as a young player. But he’s certainly able to have those conversations when they need to be had and that has impressed me. So I have told him to go out and play his game as if it is for the Crusaders and he will do a great job.

Joining read in the back row are Shannon Frizell and Ardie Savea. Frizell was a shock inclusion in the All Blacks squad for their June series against France and is set to start at blindside in his second Test. The loose forward made his debut in the run-on side when he donned the No. 6 jersey for the All Blacks’ third Test against France.

“They [Frizell and Savea] are different players but from our point of view in the All Blacks there is a certain role that you fill whatever position you fill.

“But we don’t want to change them as players but they have roles to fulfil and they bring different skillsets and I am sure when little moments happen we will see that little bit of brilliance that those two players bring.”

Read acknowledged the threat Argentina side pose after they knocked off South Africa in their last match.

“I think over the last few years and this year they have got a lot of continuity coming out of the Jaguares and a side that knocks over the South Africans is a good side. They will have lots of confidence and we have to be aware of that.”

The All Blacks and Pumas will play in front of a sold-out Trafalgar Park in Nelson.

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