Argentina v New Zealand -Teams and Prediction
ROUND ONE PREVIEW: New Zealand will be favoured to beat Argentina, but the days when an All Blacks victory over the Pumas was taken for granted are over.
The sides will meet in their Rugby Championship opener at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Cordoba on Saturday.
Three-time World Cup winners New Zealand won 28 of the first 29 Tests against the South Americans, with the other drawn.
But the unpredictable Pumas have won three of 10 internationals between the countries since, two of which came in Christchurch and Wellington.
“We want to play fast and be really strong at the set-pieces,” All Black prop Fletcher Newell told reporters in Cordoba.
“Our team is really trying to find its identity this year.”
All Black head coach Scott Robertson opted to give the No.10 jersey to Beauden Barrett instead of Damian McKenzie.
Robertson appears settled on each player’s best role and cut a relaxed figure as he spoke about the selection at the All Blacks’ team naming press conference.
“Beauden’s experienced, he’s been around for a long period of time, he can get you around the field,” the coach explained.
“And DMac is one of the best players in the game to come off the bench and change the pace, the speed. It’s a great balance.
“Beauden’s in great form, so he gets picked.”
Robertson added: “We’ve got a balanced and experienced squad.
“Obviously, we used the three Tests against the French to play our whole squad, and now we’re focusing in on a very, very good Argentinian team; they’ve picked a strong squad.”
The preview continues below..
When asked how he’s preparing his side mentally for the contest, a big grin came across Robertson’s face.
“We went to the soccer. The football. It was just a wee reminder of the passion, when they start singing, how important momentum is.
“They can get a lot of momentum, the Argentinians, from the energy of the crowd.
“That’s what we understand. That’s why we’re here, that’s what we love. South America, you’ve got that passion, and we understand that we’ve got to turn up.”
New Zealand warmed up with a hat-trick of victories over France, who lacked many resting stars, including scrumhalf Antoine Dupont.
Argentina confirmed their hard-to-fathom form by beating the British and Irish Lions in Dublin, then losing twice at home to a severely-weakened England.
“The key is to give our backs a plentiful supply of ball,” said Argentina loose forward Marcos Kremer.
“They have the ability to cause problems for any opponents.”
Players to watch
For Argentina: Los Pumas will welcome back Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy, Marcos Kremer and Juan Cruz Mallia after the quartet were rested in the July window, having each played big minutes in their respective Top 14 campaigns. Inexperienced but in-form halves duo Gonzalo García and Tomás Albornoz will act as game-drivers, with the blockbusting midfield partnership of Chocobares and Lucio Cinti to feed.
For New Zealand: Captain Scott Barrett returns from injury to lead a strong All Blacks side against Argentina. Scott Robertson has gone with experience, with Barrett starting alongside Netherlands-born Fabian Holland in the second row. Ardie Savea was picked at No.8 for what will be his 98th Test for the All Blacks and 100th match. Tupou Vaa’i returns after missing the Hamilton win through injury to slot in at blindside flank. Cortez Ratima starts at scrumhalf with the returning Beauden Barrett at flyhalf.
Prediction
@rugby365com: New Zealand by 10 points.
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Juan Martín González, 21 Simón Benítez Cruz, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.
New Zealand: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Du’Plessis Kirifi, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (captain), 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Ollie Norris, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Samipeni Finau, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Anton Lienert-Brown, 23 Damian McKenzie.
Date: Saturday, August 16
Venue: Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Cordoba
Kick-off: 18:10 (21.10 GMT; 09:10 NZST Sunday, August 17)
Expected weather: It will be mainly clear with some wind gusts, and it will be chilly.
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Morné Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Additional reporting: AFP & @RugbyPass
