Six changes against Argentina may seem a lot, but All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is rationalising away this week's dress rehearsal for next year's Rugby World Cup.
Predictably, Hansen has named a different line-up to the one shocked by South Africa in their last Rugby Championship outing in Wellington two weeks ago.
Perhaps the most significant form-based variation could be at halfback, where TJ Perenara replaces Aaron Smith, who slides to the bench.
But Hansen insists he's using the two remaining Rugby Championship fixtures - against the Pumas and Springboks - as preparation for the quarter-final/semi-final rounds of next year's world tournament, hinting this team will largely be retained next week as well.
Prop Ofa Tuungafasi replaces Owen Franks in the front row. With captain Kieran Read and Liam Squire absent, Luke Whitelock and Shannon Frizell move into the loose forwards.
Perenara takes the number nine jersey, Sonny Bill Williams makes his return at second-five, replacing Anton Leinert-Brown, while Jordie Barrett is dropped, Ben Smith moves to fullback and Waisake Naholo onto the wing.
Prop Angus Ta'avao is in line to debut off the bench.
"We wanted to pick what was a strong side and we believe the back three players are what we're looking for for this particular game," says Hansen.
"On top of that, we're doing a little bit of practice for the future. If we're good enough to get through round robin at the World Cup and we want to advance deep into that tournament, we need to play at least two big games in a row to get to the final.
"We see Argentina and South Africa giving us an opportunity to practice that. One of the things we wouldn't be doing at the World Cup is making a lot of changes, so we haven't made a lot this week."
When pressed, Hansen insists many of the changes made are forced - Squire's injury, Read's dodgy back, overdue rest for Franks and Jack Goodhue, perhaps McKenzie's late return home.
After all those contingencies, the coach calculates there are only two changes that have been made on merit - likely at halfback and fullback.
McKenzie's departure has likely elevated Richie Mo'unga to the reserve first-five role, subtly changing the dynamics of any substitutions.
Whereas McKenzie usually slots into fullback, leaving Beauden Barrett to steer the ship at first-five, Mo'unga's presence suggests that may change.
"If Beauden has to, we'll move him back to fullback," says Hansen. "We'll see what happens during the course of the match."
The full squad to face Argentina are:
1-Karl Tu'inukuafe, 2-Codie Taylor, 3-Ofa Tuungafasi, 4-Samuel Whitelock, 5-Scott Barrett, 6-Shannon Frizell, 7-Sam Cane, 8-Luke Whitelock, 9-TJ Perenara, 10-Beauden Barrett, 11-Rieko Ioane, 12-Sonny Bill Williams, 13-Ryan Crotty, 14-Waisake Naholo, 15-Ben Smith
Reserves: 16-Nathan Harris, 17-Tim Perry, 18-Angus Ta'avao, 19-Patrick Tuipulotu, 20-Ardie Savea, 21-Aaron Smith, 22-Richie Mo'unga, 23-Anton Lienert-Brown
More to come
