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New Zealand host Rugby Championship leaders Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday. The match is unchartered waters. Los Pumas are coming off a big win over Australia and a first-ever away win over New Zealand. The All Blacks are under fire; coaches and players have been criticized for performances. New Zealand has lost 6 of the past 8 matches, including a record 3 consecutive home matches.
The New Zealand coaching staff have decided against changes. They have named an identical line-up to start the Hamilton test match to that which was beaten in Christchurch. Sam Cane leads the side from flanker in his 83rd cap. Sam Whitelock starts his 138th test match at lock.
The replacements also feature vast experience. Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick missed last weekend’s test match but will play as replacements in Hamilton. They have 106 and 95 caps respectively. Dane Coles is back for his 83rd cap while the final change sees Dalton Papali’i covering flanker.
Argentina are full of confidence. Michael Cheika is looking for another combative preformance from his players. He has made four changes to the starting line-up. Up front there are two; Guido Petti and Santiago Grondona replace Matías Alemanno and Juan Martín González. Both are swaps from replacements to the starting team.
In the backs there are also two changes. Tomás Cubelli is elevated from the bench in place of Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Cordero starts in place of Lucio Cinti. A final change to the team sees Benjamín Urdapilleta named in place of Tomás Albornoz as the replacement fly half. Urdapilleta will earn his first cap since RWC 2019.
There are individual match-ups of note across the teams. Ardie Savea and Pablo Matera is a battle of the titans at the sack of the scrum. Both players are strong tacklers and formidable ball-carriers. At hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho has been outstanding for New Zealand as has Julián Montoya for Argentina. Both instances are individual battles that will contribute to gains or losses for each team.
Argentina won in Christchurch based on winning battles in the contact area. Defense worked as offense as turnovers and penalties were won. They resulted in field position and shots at goal for Emiliano Boffelli. New Zealand will look to target the ruck and tackle-ball area to combat Argentina differently this time around.
There is a lot to play for. Argentina are top of the Rugby Championship. More wins will increase the possibility of Los Pumas winning the tournament for the first time. The All Blacks are a team under threat. Questions surround the form of players and the combinations in a number of areas.
TEAMS
NEW ZEALAND
1 Ethan de Groot, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 4 Sam Whitelock, 5 Scott Barrett, 6 Shannon Frizell, 7 Sam Cane (capt.), 8 Ardie Savea, 9 Aaron Smith, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 11 Caleb Clarke, 12 David Havili, 13 Rieko Ioane, 14 Will Jordan, 15 Jordie Barrett
Replacements: 16 Dane Coles, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Quinn Tupaea
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Guido Petti 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Pablo Matera, 9 Tomás Cubelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Santiago Cordero, 12 Matías Orlando, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Juan Martín González, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 23 Lucio Cinti
Date: Saturday, September 03, 2022
Kick-Off: 7:05pm (New Zealand); 4:05am (Argentina)
Venue: Waikato Stadium (Hamilton, NZ)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant Referees: Jordan Way (Australia); Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)
Broadcast: ESPN (Latin America); Sky Sports
HISTORICAL RESULTS
2022/08/27 New Zealand 18, Argentina 25 (Christchurch, NZ)
2021/09/18 New Zealand 36, Argentina 13 (Brisbane, AU)
2021/09/12 New Zealand 39, Argentina 0 (Gold Coast, AU)
2020/11/28 New Zealand 38, Argentina 0 (Newcastle, AU)
2020/11/14 New Zealand 15, Argentina 25 (Sydney, AU)
2019/07/20 Argentina 16, New Zealand 20 (Buenos Aires, AR)
2018/09/29 Argentina 17, New Zealand 35 (Buenos Aires, AR)
2018/09/08 New Zealand 46, New Zealand 24 (Nelson, NZ)
2017/09/30 Argentina 10, New Zealand 36 (Buenos Aires, AR)
2017/09/09 New Zealand 39, Argentina 22 (New Plymouth, NZ)
2016/10/01 Argentina 17, New Zealand 36 (Buenos Aires, AR)
2016/09/10 New Zealand 57, Argentina 22 (Hamilton, NZ)
2015/09/20 New Zealand 26, Argentina 16 (London, UK)
2015/07/17 New Zealand 18, Argentina 39 (Christchurch, NZ)
2014/09/27 Argentina 13, New Zealand 34 (La Plata, AR)
2014/09/06 New Zealand 28, Argentina 09 (Napier, NZ)
2013/09/28 Argentina 15, New Zealand 33 (La Plata, AR)
2013/09/07 New Zealand 28, Argentina 13 (Hamilton, NZ)
2012/09/29 Argentina 15, New Zealand 54 (La Plata, AR)
2012/09/08 New Zealand 21, Argentina 05 (Wellington, NZ)
2011/10/09 New Zealand 33, Argentina 10 (Auckland, NZ)
2006/06/24 Argentina 19 New Zealand 25 (Buenos Aires, NZ)
2004/06/26 New Zealand 41, Argentina 07 (Hamilton, NZ)
2001/12/01 Argentina 20, New Zealand 24 (Buenos Aires, AR)
2001/06/22 New Zealand 67, Argentina 19 (Christchurch, NZ)
1997/06/28 New Zealand 62, Argentina 10 (Hamilton, NZ)
1997/06/21 New Zealand 93, Argentina 08 (Wellington, NZ)
1991/07/13 Argentina 06, New Zealand 36 (Buenos Aires, AR)
1991/07/06 Argentina 14, New Zealand 28 (Buenos Aires, AR)
1989/07/29 New Zealand 49, Argentina 12 (Wellington, NZ)
1989/07/15 New Zealand 60, Argentina 09 (Dunedin, NZ)
1987/06/01 New Zealand 45, Argentina 15 (Wellington, NZ)
1985/11//02 Argentina 21, New Zealand 21 (Buenos Aires, AR)
1985/10/26 Argentina 20, New Zealand 23 (Buenos Aires, AR)
OVERALL RESULTS
New Zealand Wins 31
Argentina Wins 2
Draws 1
