New Zealand winger Mark Tele’a, left out of the quarter-final against Ireland, is back in the All Blacks starting XV for the World Cup semi-final against Argentina on Friday (9:00 p.m.) at Stade de France, according to the composition of the team revealed on Wednesday. Ian Foster, the New Zealand coach, has made another change to the team which will challenge the Pumas in Saint-Denis, Sam Whitelock taking the place of Brodie Retallick, associated with Scott Barrett in the second row. For the rest Foster had confidence in the winners of the quarter against Ireland (28-24).
Tele’a, author of three tries in two matches during the French World Cup, was removed from the team during the last match for not having respected the curfew established by his staff during the week. He was replaced by Leicester Fainga’anuku, four matches played including three as a starter and five tries scored, including one in the quarter against Ireland.
Fainga’anuku, who will play in Toulon at the end of the World Cup, is out of the 23, just like hooker Dan Coles, replacing against Ireland but who is replaced on the bench by Samisoni Taukei’aho for the half -final. Samuel Whitelock, 2011 and 2015 world champion, who will celebrate his 152nd cap at the Stade de France, can still become the only player to obtain three world titles if the All Blacks beat Argentina on Friday and win the final following, on October 28, still at the Stade de France.
B. Barrett – Jordan, Ioane, J. Barrett, Tele’a, – (o) Mo’unga, (m) Smith – Cane (cap.), Savea, Frizell – S. Barrett, Whitelock – Lomax, Taylor, De GrootRemplaçants : Taukei’aho, Williams, Newell, Retallick, Papali’i, Christie, McKenzie, Lienert-Brown
