Codie Taylor to earn 100th All Blacks cap, Simon Parker set for debut
Codie Taylor will play his 100th Test
©Steve Haag
The All Blacks have announced their squad for the second Rugby Championship Test against Argentina, which will be played at Estadio Vélez Sarsfield in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning New Zealand time.
The match is set to be a significant one, marking a major career milestone for Codie Taylor while also welcoming a new face to the Test arena.
Hooker Codie Taylor will play his 100th Test, joining a select group of only 14 All Blacks to have reached the landmark. He also becomes just the second hooker to achieve the milestone, following Keven Mealamu, who retired in 2015 after playing 133 Tests.
Taylor made his debut for New Zealand against Argentina in Christchurch in 2015 and has been a consistent presence in the team for nearly a decade.
Alongside Taylor’s milestone, Simon Parker will make his Test debut for New Zealand. The 25-year-old Chiefs and Northland loose forward has been named at number eight, and his inclusion shifts Ardie Savea to the openside flanker role.
Head coach Scott Robertson praised Parker for his consistency and physical presence, noting that his selection was earned through strong performances at training and in domestic rugby.
The wider squad also sees some important changes from the team that defeated Argentina 41-24 in Córdoba last week. Josh Lord has been included in place of Patrick Tuipulotu, who has been sidelined with a minor facial fracture.
Tamaiti Williams and Wallace Sititi return from injury and will take places among the reserves, while Quinn Tupaea has been named to provide midfield cover.
“Codie is a great All Black. He carries a huge amount of mana in our group and it’s important we put out a performance that makes him and his whanau proud in his 100th Test," said Robertson.
"The way he carries himself and the example he sets are testament to him as a person and he will front this week in the same way he has for the past 99 Tests.
“Equally, it’s a special day for Simon and his family. He’s earned his selection through performance and consistency. He’s a big, physical man, and he’s ready to make an impact.”
New Zealand XV: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, (Captain) 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan.
Reserves: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie.
