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| - Under-pressure coach Ian Foster made three changes to his forward pack Thursday to face Argentina as the All Blacks desperately look to avoid the ignominy of a third defeat in a row. The three-time world champions have been under intense scrutiny from fans and pundits after shock losses to Australia and the Pumas in consecutive weeks during the Tri Nations. If they fail to win on Saturday at Newcastle, north of Sydney, they will go down in the history books as the first New Zealand team to lose three in a row since 1998. Foster, who has faced calls for his axing after just five games in charge, shuffled his pack to better deal with a physically-imposing and much-improved Argentinian side who have been a revelation. Prop Nepo Laulala comes into the front row, with Tyrel Lomax benched, while lock Scott Barrett was preferred to Patrick Tuipulotu. Loose forward Akira Ioane will start in the number six jersey, after his Test debut against Australia in Brisbane this month, in place of Shannon Frizell. "We've had a great week building into what will be a vital Test for us," said Foster. "It's exciting in the sense that we have the opportunity to redeem ourselves after our last game, and we also have the opportunity to win the Tri Nations. "There's a real determination in the team to perform well, not only for ourselves, but also our families and friends at home and our country," he added. They will need to improve their discipline to stop the rot, especially a side that knows how to rub them up the wrong way. New Zealand had a bye last week to work out what went wrong after their 25-15 humbling by the Pumas in Sydney a fortnight ago -- their first defeat to Argentina in 35 years. That embarrassment followed the All Blacks crashing 24-22 to Australia. New Zealand (15-1) Beauden Barrett; Jordie Barrett, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jack Goodhue, Caleb Clarke; Richie Mo'unga, Aaron Smith; Ardie Savea, Sam Cane (capt), Akira Ioane; Sam Whitelock, Scott Barrett; Nepo Laulala, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Replacements: Codie Taylor, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Tyrel Lomax, Patrick Tuipulotu, Hoskins Sotutu, TJ Perenara, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan mp/dh
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