'We will fight for every ball': Argentina's attitude ahead of All Black challenge

With a game at hand, a Rugby Championship ahead and a Rugby World Cup in the future, Argentina, as are the All Blacks who they play on Saturday at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium, have to be very cunning in how they prepare.

“The biggest thing this year for us is Rugby World Cup,” said Michael Cheika when naming his first team of the season.

It is a strong side with a number of statements, mostly at fly half with Santiago Carreras preferred to start the season over Nicolás Sánchez, whose 95 caps of experience will come handy from the bench if needed.

At scrumhalf, local boy Gonzalo Bertranou will lead out the team as he plays his 50th test. A quiet guy of huge resolve, he knows he needs to make a strong statement in what will be his first game of rugby since injuring a foot in January.

Will Pablo Matera shake Dane Coles’ hand might not be the big issue within the pack but whether the home forwards are ready to take on the All Blacks head on.

Hooker and captain Julián Montoya is delighted to be playing in Argentina.

“Playing at home is fantastic. The squad’s energy has been very good; everybody is pushing for the success of the team, regardless of whether they are playing, in the reserves or the stands,” he said.

“We want to be recognized as a team that works, works, works. We will fight for every ball, push in every ruck, chase every ball.”

First capped in 2014, Montoya will have the mobile Thomas Gallo, double try-scorer against the Wallabies in 2020, and Lucio Sordoni, starting for the first time. His last test was as sub against the All Blacks in Newcastle in 2020.

Fully recovered from injuries, “he has grown enormously. He has a physical presence and I am very happy to have him in the front row,” adds Montoya.

Locks Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavannini share 162 caps almost evenly. It will be interesting to see who comes on top with Josh Lord only getting his third cap.

Former Crusader Pablo Matera has spent the last year taking his Japanese club from the second to the top Division and this will be his biggest game since the November internationals. He will be certainly unfazed as will be 23-year old Juan Martín González, playing his first game at home.

A try-scorer in Christchurch in 2022, he will be very much needed if, as expected, Damian McKenzie tries to constantly unleash his side’s attack.

At number eight, Rodrigo Bruni is one of those players you don’t see much of, but make very few mistakes. He started in Parramatta when Argentina first beat the All Blacks in 2020.

In fact, of the squad of 23, nine played that glorious afternoon for Argentine rugby and twelve last year in New Zealand. Captain Montoya, Matera (captain in the first win), and reserves Santiago Grondona (sub in both games) and Matías Orlando (a starter in both tests) were involved in Parramatta and Christchurch.

“Having beaten the All Blacks before means nothing more than the confidence of knowing we can do it,” said Puma coach Michael Cheika. “It helps, but this is a new team, a new opportunity.”

“Our mentality is to work all time, the 80 minutes, in each tackle, each situation. We have to be ready to attack. That has to be our attitude.”

Having arrived in Mendoza six days ahead of the test, they have had a quiet preparation, far from media and the prying eye, despite a few fans showing their support and love.

The low-key preparation is what the coach and the team prefer as they prepare for what will be a cauldron on Saturday at the Malvinas Argentinas Stadium. The city is amping up and the search for last minute tickets has become a mission impossible. Some 20 thousand tickets have been sold outside of the city, with a large number of Chilean fans crossing the Andes for the weekend.

They will see a backline that has a couple of surprises.

Having mentioned the halfbacks, it will be the first time Lucio Cinti starts at inside centre – his 12 tests were on the wing, including both last year against the ABs. On the wings, size will not be in abundance, with pocket rocket Mateo Carreras hoping to find some of the magic that made one of his tries for Sale, Try of the Season in English Premiership.

Where the All Blacks might have an edge is in the reserves. Size and experience seem to be on the All Blacks side, but a lot of the impact of the subs will depend on the moment they are brought in.

The challenges ahead for Argentina, and every other team this year, is, in the words of Cheika, are “twofold”.

“Yes, the games we play now are important for Rugby World Cup because your best preparation is playing against the best teams in the world. But on top of that, The Rugby Championship is a trophy up for grabs and we haven’t won it.”

“It is a real opportunity to think on both things at the time, not prioritizing. It is the pursuit of something we haven’t done before.”

This will be a team fully motivated, thinking on the now, and hugely supported.

“I don’t think Rugby World Cup selection creates any extra motivation to play your best. We’ll be doing all we can to win. But these guys step into the jersey they are always giving the best.”

“The carrot is playing in celeste y blanco.” Dixit Michael Cheika.

Lineup (1 to 23): Thomas Gallo, Julián Montoya and Lucio Sordoni; Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavannini; Pablo Matera, Juan Martín González and Rodrigo Bruni; Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Carreras, Mateo Carreras, Lucio Cinti, Matías Moroni and Bautista Delguy; Emiliano Boffelli. Reserves: Agustín Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Pedro Rubiolo, Santiago Grondona, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Nicolás Sánchez and Matías Orlando