All Blacks channel defeat 'hurt' in bid to tame Pumas / Photo: MICHAEL BRADLEY - AFP
All Blacks channel defeat 'hurt' in bid to tame Pumas
All Blacks captain Ardie Savea said Friday his New Zealand team has spent the week "looking in the mirror" as they chase revenge against Argentina in The Rugby Championship.
Victory over the Pumas on Saturday would reverse last week's shock 38-30 defeat in Wellington and chalk up a 50th win for the All Blacks at Auckland's Eden Park since New Zealand last lost there in 1994.
Savea batted away questions about the 30-year unbeaten run, saying distractions played a part in their defeat last week, only their third loss to the Pumas in 38 meetings.
"An All Blacks team does well when we're clear, we know what we need to, we're physical, and we're light in the mind," Savea told reporters.
"We've owned our performance and it starts with looking in the mirror. It hurts so hopefully we use that hurt for something good."
With wet weather forecast for the match, Savea said much of their focus this week had been on playing at the right end of the field, something they struggled to achieve against the ferocious Pumas defence.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi acknowledged New Zealand's 30 years of dominance at Eden Park and said his players would need to be mentally strong to overcome it.
Both of the Pumas' previous wins over the All Blacks -- in Sydney in 2020 and in Christchurch two years ago -- were followed by heavy defeats to the motivated New Zealanders.
"It's important how we reply, because the previous two occasions, I think the All Blacks were far the better team. They improved a lot from one game and we know they will improve for this game," Contepomi said.
"And I know Eden Park probably will mean a lot for them but that's only statistics - and stats are there to be broken."
Argentina have only played New Zealand once at Eden Park, when Contepomi was captain in a 2011 Rugby World Cup quarter-final which they lost 33-10.
Both teams have made tweaks to their squads this week, including recalls for two influential veterans.
Argentina hooker and captain Julian Montoya will start his 98th Test after missing the Wellington encounter with injured ribs.
Former All Blacks skipper Sam Cane is on the bench in what is set to be his 96th international.
The 32-year-old is set to play his first Test since his sending off in the World Cup final last October when New Zealand lost to South Africa in Paris.
S.Smith--EWJ
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