The All Blacks have travelled across the Pacific Ocean for the first time since 2019 to take-on Argentina in Mendoza. Join The Roar for live scores and rolling coverage from 5:10am (AEST).
New Zealand coach Ian Foster has picked Chiefs five-eighth Damian McKenzie ahead of incumbent and form five-eight Richie Mo’unga. It will be McKenzie’s first Test since 2021.
It will be the first hit out for both teams in this condensed version of the Rugby Championships, with both sides still figuring-out their best sides ahead of the Rugby World Cup.
McKenzie’s return from a stint in Japan saw him guide the Chiefs to the Super Rugby Pacific grand final where they lost to Richie Mo’unga’s Crusaders. Mo’unga claims his spot on the bench.
Excitement machine Emoni Narawa has been rewarded for a breakout season with the Chiefs and has been handed his All Blacks debut on the wing.
All Blacks great Sam Whitelock is recovering from an ankle injury with young Chiefs player Josh Lord being paired with veteran Scott Barrett in the second-row for his third Test and first since 2021.
Beauden Barrett has been given a chance at fullback for his 113th Test after a shaky SRP season.
With this cap he will surpass Dan Carter, making him the second most capped All Black, now only behind Aaron Smith, who is starting at halfback.
Three doesn’t go into two and it is in-form and crowd favourite Shaun Stevenson who misses out. A decision which has surprised many and has other asking whether this is the nail in the coffin for his All Blacks aspirations.
Stevenson was listed as an injury cover for Mark Telea and the Blues winger remains injured, yet Stevenson remains outside the matchday 23.
The Argentinians have never beaten the All Blacks in Argentina, but the memory of the Pumas beating the All Blacks 25 – 18 last year in Christchurch will still be fresh in both teams’ minds.
A capacity crowd of 42,500 is expected at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, with tickets reportedly sold out two months in advance.
Los Pumas’ Prop Lucio Sordoni will make his first appearance for Argentina in almost three years in an otherwise settled team named by Cheika.
Stalwart Emiliano Boffelli at fullback continues his run of playing every Test since Cheika took over. His boot has kept Argentina in many-a-game and it will likely be called on again if history is to be made.
Lock Tomas Lavanini is a standout amongst the experienced Argentines and will be vital for the Pumas chances. He just has to make sure he stays on the right side of the referee so he can contribute for the full 80.
Santiago Carreras has been selected at 10 despite the more experienced and specialist five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez being available. Sanchez sits on the bench with veteran centre Matias Orlando.
Inspirational captain and hooker Julian Montoya will lead the side with rising talent Thomas Gallo scrummaging alongside him.
Cheika is missing suspended enforcer Marcos Kremer who will sit out the entire Rugby Championship due to foul play during his club season.
Argentina have beaten the All Blacks twice in the last three years, and if that trend is to continue, they will need ascendency in contact and at set-piece. Winning the contact battle will be crucial in slowing down the All Blacks ball, the side is full of strike weapons across the park.
A home field advantage and no travel may be enough for any other side, but Michael Cheika has had to assemble players from all over the world and get them all on the same page.
A slight lapse in concentration, a disjoin in the defensive line or a string of bad discipline can undo this rag-tag bunch of Argentinians. The slightest scent of chaos and McKenzie will slice through the Pumas like a hot knife through butter.
Venue: Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza
Kick-off: 5:10am (AEST)
Streaming: Stan Sport
Odds: Argentina $5.00, All Balcks $1.18 – odds via PlayUp
Teams
All Blacks
1-15: Ethan de Groot, Dane Coles, Tyrel Lomax, Scott Barrett, Josh Lord, Shannon Frizell, Sam Cane (c), Ardie Savea, Aaron Smith, Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Emoni Narawa, Beauden Barrett.
Replacements: Codie Taylor, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Nepo Laulala, Tupou Vaa’i, Dalton Papali’i, Finlay Christie, Richie Mo’unga, Braydon Ennor.
Argentina
1-15: Thomas Gallo, Julian Montoya (C), Lucio Sordoni, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Rodrigo Bruni, Gonzalo Bertranou, Snatiago Carreras, Matteo Carreras, Lucio Cinti, Matias Moroni, Bautista Delguy, Emiliano Boffelli.
Replacements: Augustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Pedro Rubiolo, Sanriago Grondona, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Orlando.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
He clearly knows he's been failing so credit to him for making the changes. I think most of us have razzed on him over the last few years LOL. I believe SH rugby and NZ in particularly have had real struggles with Covid lockdowns and maybe the impact of that is pretty-much gone now too. Lets see if it can be done consistently now.
Otago Man
Roar Rookie
He deserves the praise Jacko. I'm happy to give it to him as I gave him the razz after how the team was tracking earlier last year. It took some real cage rattling to make the changes.
John Ferguson
Expert
Cheers Moaman!
Jacko
Roar Rookie
So 31 nil in the first half is BB and Dmac too flat? Thats the best Ive seen the backs play for a long time and Dmacs speed of hands is a massive difference. He had 3 try assists today. Exceptional.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Foster turned it around. He's the man copping all the crap when its bad so he's the man getting the accolaides tonight.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Dmacs quick hands created a lot tonight
Jacko
Roar Rookie
Ive heard Coles told him he doesnt belong there.
Jacko
Roar Rookie
BB haters are very embarrassingly quiet this morning Moaman. Dmac haters should be too.
Faith
Roar Rookie
Ryan's influence turned this team around lasy year and continues to be the platform for everything ...
True, can seem like that... To me though, too many variables in that stat to conclude that Cane is immovable i.e. who else was in the team? Whist on the topic of stats, be interesting to know how many wins Abs have with Whitelock as captain?
Highlander
Roar Guru
ABrecord against to 5 sides with ardie 7 40pc Cane is immovable
If he was playing in the open channels – 100% maybe even more ( a steal or two)
moaman
Roar Guru
Would Savea offer as much on defence as Cane does and did today?
Agree re Savea not big enough for 8 or 6. Re Sam Cane, I reckon Sam Whitelock offers more as a captain, makes better decisions under pressure, has a better track record as a leader and is a proven winner. Savea at 7 can match everything Sam offers and maybe more. For the record, Love Sam Cane – and love his dedication and effort in defence! Just not in the best ABs starting team imo, he’ll be better as a finisher.
moaman
Roar Guru
I can't see how you leave Cane out; the problem really is with Savea. He is too good not to shoehorn in somewhere but he isn't big enough for an ideal 6/8. So they compromise.
How about this back 3. Ardie 7, Frizell at 6, and Gus at 8. Now I know Gus is going somewhere up north to play but I like a big 8 who is athletic, can chug up the ball but can also ball play (literally was a Bballer) and is also another jumper at line outs. So too Frizell. And to me, Ardie is best at 7. He offers more than Cane. Sorry Cane lovers. Ratalick and Whitelock at locks. And any of the Chiefs or Saders front rowers. That's the forward pack Fozzie!!
Emery Ambrose
Roar Rookie
Good hit out for the boys, man some stuff was crisp and great to watch. Thought Lord was good after limited game time. Forwards were dominant from the get go, reminds of years ago. Frizell goes so good. Enjoyed watchibg the old cuts and M2 in the midfield. JB looked good in the ABs system.
Yeah, I agree, play didn’t come his way.. But that’s when you go looking and get involved. It was like he was the one on debut. The bad pass out wide didn’t help his case either but he did make some tackles.. There were a couple of instances where he got the ball and should’ve finished it but couldn’t ice the cake.. at this level wingers gotta nail those opportunities.
moaman
Roar Guru
Seemed like a more intelligent game-plan from the ABs, the whole approach just felt smarter. An example of that was the simple utilisation of JB's boot for line-kicking. Why use a pop-gun when little brother carries a cannon?
Slackbladder
Roar Rookie
Agree HL, Frizzell and Reiko looked like different players (Cane as well), attitude to me the big difference, where has that enthusiasm been over last 3 years? Whoever said whatever to the team, long may it continue.