ABs plan to attack Pumas defence

How on earth do you break down the Pumas’ near impenetrable defensive wall?

That, on top of significantly improved discipline, is the big focus for the All Blacks ahead of their rematch with Argentina in Newcastle on Saturday night.

Led superbly by captain and flanker Pablo Matera, Argentina have conceded only two tries in the process of toppling the All Blacks and drawing with the Wallabies in the Tri Nations.

‘‘Defences are getting really good, and when the All Blacks get beaten it’s when defences dominate our attack,’’ assistant coach John Plumtree said yesterday.

The All Blacks were toothless on attack and appeared out of ideas during their 25-15 loss to Argentina earlier this month.

‘‘We do see opportunities, but we’ve got to be good enough to take those opportunities and see that space and look to get the ball to that space. That’s not just running the ball, it’s also kicking and applying pressure in different parts of the game,’’ Plumtree said.

‘‘We know what the Argentinians are all about now.’’

Plumtree confirmed the All Blacks had a full squad to pick from, meaning utility back Will Jordan is over the head-knock which limited his Bledisloe Cup debut in Brisbane to five minutes earlier this month.

Whether he gets another go won’t be known until tomorrow afternoon.

The same goes for loose forward Akira Ioane, whose impressive debut in the same match as Jordan was cut short after prop Ofa Tu’ungafasi’s red card.

‘‘Yep, definitely,’’ Plumtree said when asked if Ioane was pushing for a spot in the team this week.

‘‘Hoskins [Sotutu] we’re looking at as well, and Dalton Papalii hasn’t had a lot of time. All of these players have been fantastic in Super Rugby, and they have been great on this trip. They all deserve an opportunity, it’s just if they get it.

‘‘Ideally, we wanted to give everyone time on this trip,’’ Plumtree said. ‘‘We have a lot of new fellas and we wanted to reward them. Some have got that and some haven’t. But that’s just the nature of being with this team. It’s not a given right to be selected for the All Blacks.’’

With their backs against the wall and facing the prospect of losing three straight tests for the first time since 1998, the All Blacks don’t need telling what’s at stake in their sixth and final test of the year.