{"id":294278,"date":"2023-10-19T19:27:11","date_gmt":"2023-10-19T19:27:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/?p=294278"},"modified":"2023-10-19T19:27:11","modified_gmt":"2023-10-19T19:27:11","slug":"mark-telea-returns-as-all-blacks-make-surprise-lock-switch-for-semi-final","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tellmysport.com\/rugby-union\/mark-telea-returns-as-all-blacks-make-surprise-lock-switch-for-semi-final\/","title":{"rendered":"Mark Tele\u2019a returns as All Blacks make surprise lock switch for semi-final"},"content":{"rendered":"
Mark Tele\u2019a has been brought back into the New Zealand starting side for their semi-final against Argentina <\/p>\n
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Wing Mark Tele\u2019a has been brought back into the New Zealand side to face Argentina in the Rugby World Cup semi-finals after missing the All Blacks\u2019 last eight win over Ireland for disciplinary reasons.<\/p>\n
Tele\u2019a replaces Leicester Fainga\u2019anuku having been left out last weekend after breaching team protocols.<\/p>\n
The other change to Ian Foster\u2019s side comes in the second row, where Sam Whitelock, the most capped All Black ever, is preferred to long time locking partner Brodie Retallick.<\/p>\n
Retallick has to be content with a place on the bench, which also includes hooker Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho, not involved last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cRugby World Cup playoffs are a series of finals,\u201d said head coach Foster. \u201cWe know that the intensity only increases as you progress through the knockout stages and we are preparing accordingly.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe have received amazing support from our country and fans. The atmosphere at our games has been tremendous and we want to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been a part of that.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe team is determined to give it everything in this special occasion against Argentina who are a quality team with a proven record in Rugby World Cup playoff games. We are very respectful of that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Whitelock, 35, could become the first player in men\u2019s World Cup history to reach three finals, having been part of the triumphant New Zealand sides in 2011 and 2015.<\/p>\n
The veteran partners club teammate Scott Barrett, who remains in the starting side alongside brothers Jordie and Beauden.<\/p>\n
New Zealand team to face Argentina at the Stade de France (Friday 20 October, kick off 8pm BST)<\/strong><\/p>\n 1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Codie Taylor, 3 Tyrel Lomax; 4 Samuel Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett; 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 8 Ardie Savea; 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo\u2019unga; 11 Mark Tele\u2019a, 12 Jordie Barrett, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan; 15 Beauden Barrett<\/p>\n Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei\u2019aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papali\u2019i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Damian McKenzie, 23 Anton Lienert-Brown<\/em><\/p>\n