NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • Deloitte Fast 50
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Rugby / All Blacks

All Blacks: Piutau in with a chance against Pumas

Patrick McKendry
By Patrick McKendry
Reporter·APNZ·
17 Sep, 2014 05:00 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Charles Piutau during the QBE International match against England at Twickenham Stadium. File photo / Getty Images
Charles Piutau during the QBE International match against England at Twickenham Stadium. File photo / Getty Images

Charles Piutau during the QBE International match against England at Twickenham Stadium. File photo / Getty Images

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The All Blacks' already strong outside back division is about to get stronger with the possible addition in the next few weeks of Charles Piutau.

Piutau's season with the Blues was badly disrupted by a knee injury but after forcing his way into Steve Hansen's Rugby Championship squad, the 22-year-old's fitness and form have caught the coach's eye.

Piutau has not been involved in any of the All Blacks' four Championship tests so far this season but, as they prepare to travel to Buenos Aires and the return test against Argentina, that could be about to change.

"We've noticed in the last week or so he's really sharpening up again," Hansen said on Radio LiveSport yesterday. "With that knee, I think that's held him back a bit and he's lost a bit of confidence, but he's starting to really train well with us and he's probably not far away from getting a game shortly."

Hansen will be wary about changing things too much against the Pumas at La Plata a week on Sunday as he is already without Ma'a Nonu, an absence that will likely result in Malakai Fekitoa starting in the unfamiliar position of second-five.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

However, Hansen could opt to rest either Julian Savea or Ben Smith, both of whom have played every minute of the past four tests against Australia (twice), Argentina, and the Boks, leaving the way clear for Piutau to return via the reserves bench.

Israel Dagg, back at fullback after missing the Wallabies tests, has played every minute of his team's past two outings. Cory Jane, not required against the Pumas in Napier but who played the whole of the second half in Wellington after Nonu broke his left forearm, has amassed 165 minutes over three tests.

Hansen will want his strongest line-up for the next week against the Boks in Johannesburg, which suggests Piutau's big chance could come at the Estadio Ciudad de La Plata.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Piutau made his All Blacks debut last year against France in Christchurch in June and improved so much he started his past four tests, including an impressive performance against France in Paris in November.

Hansen said Sam Whitelock was not guaranteed to return from a rib cartilage injury which kept him out of the 14-10 victory over the Springboks in Wellington.

Discover more

All Blacks

Crotty to miss Pumas test

16 Sep 01:52 AM
All Blacks

All Blacks: Crotty looms as key figure

16 Sep 05:00 PM
Aged care

All Blacks play retirement game

16 Sep 05:00 PM
Rugby World Cup

'Rugby-mad' pupils meet Fox

17 Sep 05:00 PM
Save
    Share this article

Latest from All Blacks

All Blacks

Injured All Blacks quintet set to feature in Argentina, key prop ruled out

Premium
OpinionPhil Gifford

Phil Gifford: A revived threat for Razor's All Blacks

Premium
OpinionLiam Napier

All Blacks review: Best player, biggest concern and where they missed a trick


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Recommended for you

'Serious injuries': Person rushed to hospital after reported assault in Manukau
New Zealand

'Serious injuries': Person rushed to hospital after reported assault in Manukau

Gunman kills five in ‘mass shooting’ in Thai capital - police
World

Gunman kills five in ‘mass shooting’ in Thai capital - police

Couple set to lose $1.7m in property after commercial-scale cannabis bust
New Zealand

Couple set to lose $1.7m in property after commercial-scale cannabis bust

'Defining moment': UN challenges Australia on climate ambitions
World

'Defining moment': UN challenges Australia on climate ambitions

'Long may it continue': NZ events industry sees promising revival
Entertainment

'Long may it continue': NZ events industry sees promising revival

'You were everything': Man who died from critical injuries in Rotorua remembered
Rotorua Daily Post

'You were everything': Man who died from critical injuries in Rotorua remembered



Latest from All Blacks

Injured All Blacks quintet set to feature in Argentina, key prop ruled out
All Blacks

Injured All Blacks quintet set to feature in Argentina, key prop ruled out

Meanwhile, eight players have been released to play NPC this weekend.

28 Jul 04:17 AM
Premium
Premium
Phil Gifford: A revived threat for Razor's All Blacks
Phil Gifford
OpinionPhil Gifford

Phil Gifford: A revived threat for Razor's All Blacks

27 Jul 08:00 PM
Premium
Premium
All Blacks review: Best player, biggest concern and where they missed a trick
Liam Napier
OpinionLiam Napier

All Blacks review: Best player, biggest concern and where they missed a trick

23 Jul 06:00 PM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
All Access. All in one subscription. From $2 per week
Subscribe now

All Access Weekly

From $2 per week
Pay just
$15.75
$2
per week ongoing
Subscribe now
BEST VALUE

All Access Annual

Pay just
$449
$49
per year ongoing
Subscribe now
Learn more
30
TOP
search by queryly Advanced Search