Pumas v All Blacks: Kickoff 9.10am, Sunday, August 24 at Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires.
The All Blacks certainly feel like they’re trending in an upward direction, despite having plenty to work on after their win last weekend over Argentina.
While things weren’t perfect, the scoreline was ultimately comfortable and the team named this week yielded a mostly unchanged line-up, bolstered by some heavyhitters on the bench.
This game now stands as a serious momentum-gathering exercise for the All Blacks, before they return home to face South Africa in a fortnight, but the Pumas certainly can’t be taken lightly, since they’ll be hurting after last week.
You can follow a live blog of tomorrow’s games on 1News.co.nz
Teams
Pumas: 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julián Montoya (c), 3. Pedro Delgado, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Pedro Rubiolo, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Juan Martín González, 8. Joaquín Oviedo, 9. Gonzalo García, 10. Tomás Albornoz, 11. Mateo Carreras, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 13. Lucio Cinti, 14. Bautista Delguy, 15. Juan Cruz Mallía
Bench: 16. Ignacio Ruiz, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Marcos Kremer, 21. Simón Benítez Cruz, 22. Santiago Carreras, 23. Justo Piccardo
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa’i, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie
Pumas selections
The Pumas have made a single change up front and one in the back, as they seek to bounce back from their defeat in Córdoba.
Try-scorer Rodrigo Isgró drops out of the squad altogether, opening the door for Mateo Carreras to come in, while Bautista Delguy shifts across to the opposite wing.
Coach Felipe Contepomi has also tinkered with the loose forwards, where Juan Martín González moves into the run-on team, while Marcos Kremer goes to the bench.
All Blacks selections
Simon Parker has gone straight into the starting side at No. 8, which means Ardie Savea moves to openside and Du’Plessis Kirifi drops out.
Prop Tamaiti Williams and loose forward Wallace Sititi come onto the bench, which is not a surprise at all, but after such a long time out, they may be sweating on Williams’ match fitness, if he is forced into action early through injury.
Lock Josh Lord and midfielder Quinn Tupaea also come onto the bench in place of the injured Patrick Tuipulotu and Anton Lienert-Brown.
Key stats
The Pumas have never defeated the All Blacks on home turf, losing 14 of their 15 games and earning a 21-all draw against them in November 1985 in Buenos Aires.
The All Blacks have won 10 of their last 11 tests, including their last five in a row, and will look to win six straight for the first time since November 2022. But they’ve outscored their opponents in the second half only once in their last four games.
Fullback Will Jordan has been directly involved in eight tries across his last five tests, scoring five, with three assists. Winger Sevu Reece has crossed for three tries over his last three tests against the Pumas.
What they’re saying
“[Williams and Sititi are] some big bodies. We’re really pleased, they’ve worked really hard.
“The timing for this opportunity, if you look at the entirety of the test series, them getting back for this test match is really important.”
– All Blacks coach Scott Robertson
“It was always a dream as a kid to wear the jersey. To fulfil that with one test, let alone what’s about to happen this weekend, I never would have thought of that.”
– All Blacks hooker Codie Taylor, who will play his 100th test
Last time they met
All Blacks 41 – Pumas 24
After finding themselves up 31-10 at halftime, the All Blacks really should’ve kicked on to bury the Pumas in the second half.
The home side rallied admirably to close within a converted try of the lead, before the All Blacks shifted gear, with two late tries to replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho.
What’s going to happen
Ideally, something like last weekend, but without the injuries for the All Blacks.
Any sort of win would set them up nicely for a run at retaining the Rugby Championship, so maybe expect the forwards to keep it tight a bit more readily, if the Pumas enjoy long periods of possession in the first half.
Getting Jordan involved is key. Last weekend, his breakout that set up hallfback Cortez Ratima really sunk the Pumas for a while.