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New Zealand take on Argentina in Buenos Aires on Saturday knowing that victory will be sufficient to wrap up a second successive Rugby Championship title.
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The All Blacks have dominated the competition in 2017, sweeping all before them with four straight victories – only one of which did not include a bonus point.
If Argentina are to stop Steve Hansen’s side from clinching the trophy in South America they will have to do something they have never done before – beat the reigning world champions.
Hansen had intended to use the trip to rest star playmaker Beauden Barrett, but the fly-half was a late call-up following the birth of Lima Sopoaga’s first child.
Sam Whitelock and Brodie Retallick have been given a break, though, with Scott Barrett and Luke Romano forming a new partnership at lock.
“I think the boys who have stepped into those roles have done a fantastic job and we’ve got a team who’s willing to put everything on the line,” said All Blacks captain Kieran Read.
“Their team is well balanced. They’ve certainly got a team on paper that is aggressive, they’ll attack us from anywhere with their backs.
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“We’ve just got to be on our game. They’re physically pretty good up front. If we’re just off or not giving them the respect they deserve we could be in for a long day.”
Argentina have added experience with the return of Juan Manuel Leguizamon – the number eight set to make his 80th Test appearance for the Pumas – and will be keen for a strong response after a 45-20 defeat in Australia last time out.
#PersonalRugbyChampiinship
3 vs 2 y toma de decisión bien ejecutada por @tomaslezana ??#JugamosTodos pic.twitter.com/UlmJhtYNCx— Los Pumas (@lospumas) September 29, 2017
HEAD TO HEAD
Pumas: 0
All Blacks: 25
Draw: 1
KEY PLAYERS
Pumas – Agustin Creevy
The Pumas will need their captain to be at his best in Buenos Aires. The All Blacks are the only side yet to lose a scrum in the 2017 Rugby Championship, winning all 32 they have participated in. Hooker Creevy will be eager to put an end to that.
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All Blacks – Rieko Ioane
The wing made his mark for the All Blacks with a double in the opening Test against the British and Irish Lions and has scored four tries in three appearances in the Rugby Championship. He has beaten more defenders (24) and made more breaks (12) than anyone else in this year’s competition.
THE LINE-UPS
Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Lucas Noguera Paz, Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lezana, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
New Zealand: Damian McKenzie, Waisake Naholo, Anton Lienert-Brown, Sonny Bill Williams, Rieko Ioane, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith; Kane Hames, Dane Coles, Nepo Laulala, Luke Romano, Scott Barrett, Vaea Fifita, Matt Todd, Kieran Read.
PRE-MATCH TALK
Daniel Hourcade (Pumas): “Playing the All Blacks always represents a special challenge because it means facing the best team in the world and that motivates you in a very special way.”
Steve Hansen (All Blacks): “They’re growing their game away from just one or two areas. They’re trying to expand how they play and they’re starting to get better at it and I think it’ll be a really physical encounter.”
KEY STATS
– New Zealand are on target to break the record they set last year for points and tries in an edition of the Rugby Championship. They are averaging 6.8 tries and 46.3 points per game, last year’s totals averaged out at 43.7 points and 6.3 tries.
– Beauden Barrett has been involved in nine tries in this tournament already (three tries, six assists), more than any other player and two more than Argentina have managed in total as a team.
– Despite playing only 55 minutes, Kane Hames has conceded more penalties than anyone else in this tournament (6).
– The Pumas have lost nine of their last 10 matches, a solitary win against Georgia the only positive result in this run.
Comments on RugbyPass
Absolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
5 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
5 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to comments