New Zealand v Argentina: Five talking points ahead of Saturday's clash
Last Updated: 09/09/17 8:16am
New Zealand have been head and shoulders above anyone else in the Rugby Championship for several years, but Argentina need to at least bloody their noses when they meet in New Plymouth on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Action.
There has been a slow decline from the Pumas in recent years. Two years ago they were in the top four sides in the world, but their policy to only pick players from their one Super Rugby side, The Jaguares, has backfired.
The Pumas were their usual competitive selves in the opening exchanges against South Africa but fell away badly as the game went on, losing 15-37 in Port Elizabeth and lost 23-41 a week later, in Salta.
The All Blacks were superb in their opening game - winning with a record points tally over Australia in their 54-34 victory in Sydney.
They were then four minutes away from losing in Dunedin but once again showed their patience and never-say-die attitude to beat the Wallabies 35-29 in a titanic battle.
Steve Hansen's men leaked five tries in that game as the Wallabies put them under all sorts of pressure with their tactical kicking game and choosing to run from the right areas. Will Argentina put them under the same pressure? We look at some key areas ahead of Saturday's clash.
Tired Pumas
The policy that only players for Super Rugby side The Jaguares are eligible to play for Argentina has not worked, as they look tired and bereft of any new ideas.
The idea was to bring more of the foreign-based players back to Argentina which would benefit the development of the game. However, this has not happened and instead the same 30-odd players are burnt out having played together for the Super Rugby season.
But it is not only fatigue that is of concern. Pumas back Marcelo Bosch, who plays for Saracens, believes selecting players from just one team means that there are no new ideas coming in and that there is no competition for places.
"Players who play in other teams and competitions can bring value to the team," said Bosch. "All those players who play for the Jaguares play in the national team so I think they are in a comfort zone.
"They know if they are playing for the Jaguares then they will play in the national team. There is no competition and I think competition is necessary."
The set piece
South Africa took the Pumas scrum apart in the first two matches and that would have hurt them. A lot.
The Pumas have always prided themselves on a strong scrum and it has been a traditional strength of theirs, however they are battling in this department at the moment and will look to get that right against the All Blacks.
They have lost tighthead prop Ramiro Herrera, but Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro is a more than capable replacement and will look to anchor the scrum and dominate Joe Moody.
The All Blacks scrum is impressive - they have already taken on the British and Irish Lions upfront and were excellent in this area against Australia as well. Argentina will really need to go back to their strengths if they hope to get the edge here.
The Pumas lineout has been a shambles this tournament as well - and Luke Romano, Brodie Retallick and Vaea Fifita will look to put plenty of pressure on them in this area.
Talented lock Guido Petti comes into the side while flanker Javier Ortega Desio gives them another option.
Discipline
Taking on New Zealand with 15 men is tough enough and Argentina cannot afford to lose any players to the sinbin. Their record so far has not been good - in fact, they have the worst disciplinary stats in the tournament having conceded 23 penalties over two games as well as two yellow cards and a red card.
Hourcade has also moved to address the ill-discipline that was costly against South Africa by dropping lock Tomas Lavanini, who was sent off in the second of those two games.
The Pumas will need to tread a fine line - they have to stop New Zealand from getting quick ball from the rucks and also have to match their physicality. We know they are capable of this but it has to be controlled aggression - lose that and they will be punished.
Changes
New Zealand have made several changes as Steve Hansen looks to increase his incredible depth. Nehe Milner-Skudder, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara and Luke Romano will be looking to show Hansen what they can do in rare starts.
Hansen has also given blindside flanker Vaea Fifita his second start and is expecting big things from him.
"We believe he's got a lot in him. We're going to aim high for him and he needs to aim high as well and - if we aim high - I think he'll hit the target," said Hansen.
"I want to see a real physical beast that we know he can be. But we also want to see him do his core roles, you know, dominate in the tackle, dominate when he carries, use his ball skills in the contact area as well."
TJ Perenara is another who has something to prove and his battle at No 9 with the impressive Tomas Cubelli will be highly competitive.
Argentina have also rung the changes including the return of Nicolas Sanchez at fly-half in place of the injured Juan Martin Hernandez.
The boot of Sanchez will play a key role - he needs to employ a smart tactical kicking game and not let Israel Dagg, Damian McKenzie and Nehe Milner-Skudder counter.
The All Blacks back three are not the biggest and with rain expected, they can expect Sanchez to pepper them with high kicks.
There is also a return for winger Santiago Cordero while the promising Benjamin Macome comes in for Juan Manuel Leguizamon at No 8, while openside flanker Javier Ortega Desio also comes into the side.
Fast and Furious
Argentina have worked hard on developing more than just a forward-based game and have some backs who can do some serious damage. Both sides love a quick running game but Argentina cannot afford to run from everywhere and need to get there tactical kicking game right.
The Pumas will have to slow down the All Blacks. They cannot allow them space and Javier Ortega Desio will really need to really slow the ball down at the ruck and tackle area.
It is great to see Nehe Milner-Skudder back in a All Blacks shirt. He lit up the 2015 World Cup with his scything attacking runs that were timed to perfection. Expect some superb running lines from him - especially running off Sonny-Bill Williams.
Under pressure, the Pumas may opt to go back to their strengths and keep the ball tight but the inclusion of Cordero on the wing and the Matias Moroni in the centre gives them some power and pace.
New Zealand may have been given a run for their money against Australia but they will have worked especially hard on their defence this week and will be raring to get back on track. They have played the Pumas 22 times and won 21 of those battles with a 21-21 draw way back in 1985.
The Rugby Championship needs a competitive Argentina but everything points to yet another All Blacks victory by some margin.
New Zealand: 15 Damian McKenzie, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Nehe Milner-Skudder, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 TJ Perenara; 1 Joe Moody, 2 Dane Coles, 3 Nepo Laulala, 4 Luke Romano, 5 Brodie Retallick, 6 Vaea Fifita, 7 Ardie Savea, 8 Kieran Read.
Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 19 Scott Barrett, 20 Sam Cane, 21 Tawera Kerr Barlow, 22 Lima Sopoaga, 23 Ngani Laumape.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Agustin Creevy, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Matias Alemanno, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Benjamin Macome.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Matias Orlando.
