* New Zealand name preferred halfback pair
* Carter returns from calf injury (adds detail, quotes)
By Rex Gowar
BUENOS AIRES, Sept 27 (Reuters) – New Zealand will field their preferred halfback pairing of Dan Carter and Aaron Smith against Argentina in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.
Coach Steve Hansen brought the duo back into the side he named on Thursday for the match in La Plata after they missed the last test at home to South Africa.
Carter has recovered from a calf injury that kept him out of the home matches against both the Pumas and the Springboks while Smith returns after being dropped to the bench against South Africa for indiscipline.
“I’ve only had one chance to play against the Pumas, back in 2006 in Buenos Aires, so I’m very excited about playing against a team I don’t know a lot about, it’s a very different challenge to what I’m used to,” Carter said at the team announcement.
Carter missed New Zealand’s World Cup quarter-final against the Pumas last year.
The All Blacks, who have won their four matches so far, can clinch the title with a victory over Argentina regardless of the result between the Springboks and Wallabies in Pretoria.
Continued…
