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Team of the week: All Blacks and Pumas dominate

By Julian Crabtree

Last Updated: 29/08/16 3:35pm

Argentina's Juan Manuel Leguizamon (c) celebrates scoring a try against the Boks
Argentina's Juan Manuel Leguizamon (c) celebrates scoring a try against the Boks

Argentina's heroics to beat the Boks in Salta sees a host of their players join All Black stars in our team of the week.

15. Joaquín Tuculet (Argentina)

Joaquin Tuculet (r) and Bryan Habana chase after the ball
Joaquin Tuculet (r) and Bryan Habana chase after the ball

Tuculet finished off a superb Argentina try which started in their own 22. The full-back was involved in most of Argentina's attacking play and kept the Bok defence guessing with his passing and kicking game. He just edges out Ben Smith who had another fantastic game for the All Blacks.

14. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)

Highlights of New Zealand's 29-9 win over Australia at Westpac Stadium
Highlights of New Zealand's 29-9 win over Australia at Westpac Stadium

Nehe Milner-Skudder may have been New Zealand's hottest commodity at last year's World Cup, but rugby in the country is in such good health that he will have his work cut out making it back into the All Black team. Two well-taken tries show that Dagg is back to his impressive best on the wing.

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13. Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand)

Malakai Fekitoa makes a break against Australia
Malakai Fekitoa makes a break against Australia

Fekitoa gets through a lot of work in 80 minutes and was particularly strong in defence against some big running Wallabies - his six hits on Australian ball-carriers was the most of any back in his team. The midfielder was also tied-second for All Black carries with ten on the day.

12. Juan Martin Hernandez (Argentina)

Juan Martin Hernandez took control of the game in the absence of Sanchez
Juan Martin Hernandez took control of the game in the absence of Sanchez

Hernandez had a major influence on the match in Salta and took control of the Pumas' kicking game with good measure when Nicolas Sanchez left the field injured. The No 12 provided a lovely cross-field kick for Juan Manuel Leguizamón's try to hand Argentina the lead early in the second half.

11.  Santiago Cordero (Argentina)

Santiago Cordero beat three defenders on Saturday
Santiago Cordero beat three defenders on Saturday

He played in the No 14 jersey on Saturday but we have switched him to the left wing in order to accommodate him alongside Dagg. The Pumas winger carried strongly for the home side on Saturday and always got over the advantage line. He beat three defenders on his way to making the most distance of any Pumas ball carrier, with 63 metres made.

10. Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias (Argentina)

Argentina beat South Africa at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena on Saturday
Argentina beat South Africa at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena on Saturday

Beauden Barrett and Nicolas Sanchez were certainly in the mix here but we had to go for the Pumas replacement who stepped up and slotted the winning penalty for Argentina. It was his quickly-taken 22 drop out that also got the Pumas well up the field, forcing the Boks to scramble back and concede the penalty in trying to slow the ball down.

9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

Aaron Smith celebrates with Israel Dagg and Beauden Barrett
Aaron Smith celebrates with Israel Dagg and Beauden Barrett

Argentina's Martin Landajo pushed Smith all the way this week but Smith just gets the nod after having a massive impact in Wellington. The Highlanders half-back put Australia under pressure with his speed at the breakdown area, and he ran well with the ball too.

1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Argentina)

Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro of Argentina on the run
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro of Argentina on the run

Steven Kitshoff deserves a mention here for his impact off the bench for South Africa but Chaparro takes his place in the team of the week after withstanding some intense pressure from the Boks up front as they tried to muscle their way back into the game.

2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)

Reaction from both camps after New Zealand beat Australia to win the Bledisloe Cup
Reaction from both camps after New Zealand beat Australia to win the Bledisloe Cup

Most international sides would love to have Coles playing for them at centre. A wonderful player to watch with ball in hand and seems to always create the gap to break free. His skills in the loose don't detract from his set-piece responsibilities either. A class act.

3. Ramiro Herrera (Argentina)

Ramiro Herrera offloads in the tackle
Ramiro Herrera offloads in the tackle

Much like his prop partner, Herrera had to deal with a lot of pressure from the Springbok tight five in Salta. He was up against Beast Mtawarira first, then Kitshoff, and both of the South African looseheads were fired up for the encounter. Herrera also made five tackles and five carries to help his side.

4. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

Pieter-Steph du Toit runs as Eben Etzebeth supports
Pieter-Steph du Toit runs as Eben Etzebeth supports

The Stormers second rower had a telling impact when he came on as a replacement for South Africa. He helped the Boks get right back into the game with some strong carries and excellent work at the lineout. The 24-year-old also contributed a try to his side's cause. 

5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

Sam Whitelock of New Zealand carries against Australia
Sam Whitelock of New Zealand carries against Australia

Australia hooker Stephen Moore will have nightmares of Whitelock, who created havoc on every Wallaby throw-in. The Crusaders man was his usual rampaging self with ball in hand and put in some monster tackles - Israel Folau may have a few nightmares too!

6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)

Jerome Kaino celebrates with the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington
Jerome Kaino celebrates with the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington

While New Zealand's young-guns continue to impress, one of their 'older' generals is still at it. At 33-years-old, Kaino is a vital cog in the All Blacks machine and once again made a big impact against Australia. The flanker made the most metres of any All Blacks individual and put in the most tackles.

7. Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Argentina)

Leguizamon of Argentina fights for the ball with Habana
Leguizamon of Argentina fights for the ball with Habana

Sam Cane is unlucky to miss out after his man-of-the-match performance but the efforts and passion of Leguizamón were tough to ignore. The fetcher jumped above Bryan Habana to score a crucial try in Salta but it was his dogged work at the breakdown and in defence that gets him into the team.

Also See:

  • Barrett boost for All Blacks
  • Hourcade hails Argentina's heart
  • Franks has no case to answer
  • Follow @SkySportsRugby

8. Facundo Isa (Argentina)

Facundo Isa is tackled by Adriaan Strauss
Facundo Isa is tackled by Adriaan Strauss

What a player Isa is - 15 carries and four defenders beaten on Saturday. The No 8 was huge in defence; his tackle on Du Toit to win the turnover halted the Boks' last-minute momentum, denying Allister Coetzee's men any chance of stealing the game.

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