All Blacks winger Naholo ruled out of World Cup

The 33-year-old, however, was omitted from the 31-man squad that will depart for Johannesburg on Saturday and Beauden Barrett, Colin Slade and Lima Sopoaga are set to battle it out to wear the number 10 shirt against the Springboks next week.

In 2011 Fiji-born Naholo was selected New Zealand under-20 side for the Junior World Championship, and the following year picked in the All Blacks Sevens squad.

“Normally if we had a squad of 31, both of them would be in it and would be coming”, Hansen said.

The moment that ended All Black Waisake Naholo’s Rugby World Cup.

Argentina played their part in making the rare Friday night Test an entertaining affair with a willingness to run the ball, but their attacks were starting too deep and were easily read by the All Blacks.

Creevy was pleased to achieve the rare feat of a try double against the All Blacks, but said his side will have to improve before the teams meet again at the World Cup in the first round of pool matches at Wembley on 20 September.

“In deciding on the squad to travel to South Africa, the selectors based their selections on three criteria”, coach Steve Hansen said.

“They were pretty soft tries and if we were under any illusions about what South Africa are going to do… we know that they will scrum for some penalties, they will kick for lineouts and they will drive”, he said.

It was a special night for two of the most celebrated All Blacks, McCaw and Carter, making their farewell appearance before their provincial home crowd Christchurch.

It might also have been Carter’s last game in Christchurch and the France-bound fly-half marked the occasion with a 14 -point haul, although he was unable to convert McCaw’s try.

The tries cut the All Blacks’ lead to 32-18 midway through the second half, but they regained composure and re-established their authority with a try on debut to hooker Codie Taylor in the 71st minute.

The world champions, who play South Africa in the Rugby Championship next week, face Argentina, Tonga, Georgia and Namibia in the opening round of the World Cup.

Missing from the squad, cut from 41, is Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams, with Hansen saying he wanted to freshen them up before the two Bledisloe Cup matches against Australia.