Why an unchanged starting line-up will bring the best out of the All Blacks

The All Blacks will run out against Los Pumas this Saturday with an unchanged starting line-up from the side that bested the Springboks in Ellis Park two weekends ago.

There’s just one change to the match-day 23 with a neck injury ruling out impact sub Beauden Barrett, paving the way for Stephen Perofeta to join the bench for what will be his debut Test appearance.

“I’m really pleased with the work of the whole squad and there’s a number of guys we know are really pushing hard to get some time but thought that group did a great job and learnt some good lessons and it’s a great opportunity for them to go out again,” said head coach Ian Foster after naming his squad for the upcoming match.

The performance of the 23 that bounced back to beat South Africa 35-23 at Ellis Park effectively saved Foster’s position following five losses from the prior six matches and running out for a second fixture on the trot is just rewards but it will also give the players further opportunities to bed in some flourishing combinations.

In the forward pack, the young trio of Ethan de Groot, Samisoni Taukei’aho and Tyrel Lomax will run out as a front-row unit for just the second time while the more experienced Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane and Ardie Savea also get the opportunity to build on their work in the loose forwards.

In the locks, Sam Whitelock and Scott Barrett are already well aware of the benefits that can come from regular time in the saddle together, having notched up countless appearances alongside one another for both the Crusaders and All Blacks.

“It’s nice to be out there with some people you’ve played with before,” Whitelock said on Thursday. “Obviously, Scott and I have played together a heap of times – not sure on the number. It’s great when you’re starting to get that combination going. It’s something that it’s easy to slip back into, how people play.

“Just thinking around Scott and I, I kind of pick up on some of his body language so I know he’s going to do this before the call’s even come in. Which is good and that’s something that definitely does help you play better when you have that combination of people alongside you.”

There’s also a number of Crusaders named in the backline, with Richie Mo’unga, David Havili and Will Jordan all suiting up at their home ground of Orangetheory Stadium.

While the All Blacks underwent a rough start to the season, Jordan believes the team is now coming right after having more time to build on their combinations throughout the opening fixtures of their international campaign.

“I think we’re five or six games into the season now so combinations are starting to grow from where we were in the Irish series,” he said. “It’s nice to be able – with the unchanged team this week – roll through that same stuff again and it certainly helps to be able to keep building on those combinations.”

Perhaps one of the less functional partnerships remains the midfield, where Havili and Rieko Ioane are slowly starting to learn one another’s games. While the cohesiveness perhaps wasn’t where it needed to be against the Springboks, Havili believes he and Ioane are moving in the right direction.

“Definitely, I think we can take a lot of confidence from that [game],” he said. “We went to a pretty high stake game, a lot of pressure there, so we can take a lot of confidence into the next couple of games.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to play with Rieks. You just see what he can do on the field if you give him a wee bit of time and space. He’s a world-class athlete so it’s pretty exciting.”

Saturday’s match is set to kick off at the later time of 7:45pm NZT from Orangetheory Stadium in Christchurch.