NEW ZEALAND v ARGENTINA; Rugby Championship

07.09.2013

Venue: Waikato Stadium, Hamilton

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)

Preview
Despite their close 17-22 loss to South Africa at home two weeks ago Argentina’s mission to New Zealand would almost seem to be mission impossible.

Argentina has shown they are a tough team at home to defeat but away they perform well below that standard. They are away to New Zealand this weekend and then again against Australia next weekend.

New Zealand will be lifted by the return from injury of Daniel Carter. Out with injury is Ma’a Nonu and his replacement and new test cap is the Aucklander Francis Saili.

Last Five Encounters
29.09.2012 New Zealand 54-15 in Buenos Aires (Rugby Championship)08.09.2012 New Zealand 21-5 in Wellington (Rugby Championship)
09.10.2011 New Zealand 33-10 in Auckland (World Cup, Quarter-final)24.06.2006 New Zealand 24-19 in Buenos Aires
26.06.2004 New Zealand 41-7 in Hamilton
Argentina has never won a test match against New Zealand

New Zealand Last Five P 5, W 5
24.08.2013 v Australia W 27-16 in Wellington
17.08.2013 v Australia W 47-29 in Sydney (Bledisloe Cup; Rugby Champ.)
22.06.2013 v France W 24-9 in New Plymouth
15.06.2013 v France W 30-0 in Christchurch
08.06.2013 v France W 23-13 in Auckland

Argentina Last Five P 5, W 1, L 4
24.08.2013 v South Africa L 17-22 in Mendoza (Rugby Championship)
17.08.2013 v South Africa L 13-73 in Bloemfontein (Rugby Championship)22.06.2013 v Georgia W 29-18 in San Juan
15.06.2013 v England L 26-51 in Buenos Aires
08.06.2013 v England L 3-32 in Salta

Match Milestones
’Dan Carter is sitting on 1399 points in Test matches, so is set to become the first player to post 1400 Test points. Carter is also closing in on Jonny Wilkinson's world record of 255 penalty goals in Tests. Carter is on 248. Captain Richie McCaw will play his 48 Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations Test which will equal George Gregan as the most caps in the series. And the All Blacks are one short of equalling France's record of 382 Test victories.
Captain Richie McCaw wins his 119th cap, equalling the record set by England’s Jason Leonard as the fourth most capped player in test history.
Francis Saili will be making his test debut.’

Thanks to http://www.allblacks.com

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: New Zealand 4th, Argentina 15th

IRB Ranking Points
New Zealand 91.64, Argentina 76.41

Prediction: New Zealand by 35 points

TEAMS

New Zealand

15		Israel Dagg	Hawkes Bay
14		Benjamin Smith	Otago
13		Conrad Smith	Wellington
12		Francis Saili	Auckland
11		Julian Savea	Wellington
10		Daniel Carter	Canterbury
9		Aaron Smith	Manawatu
8		Kieran Read	Canterbury
7		Richie McCaw (Capt.)	Canterbury
6		Steven Luatua	Auckland
5		Samuel Whitelock	Canterbury
4		Brodie Retallick	Bay of Plenty
3		Charlie Faumuina	Auckland
2		Andrew Hore	Taranaki
1		Tony Woodcock	North Harbour
16		Daniel Coles	Wellington
17		Wayne Crockett	Canterbury
18		Benjamin Franks	Hawkes Bay
19		Jeremy Thrush	Wellington
20		Samuel Cane	Bay of Plenty
21		Tawera Kerr-Barlow	Waikato
22		Beauden Barrett	Taranaki
23		Charles Piutau	Auckland
		HEAD COACH: Steven Hansen

Argentina

15		Juan Martín Hernández	Racing Metro 92, France
14		Gonzalo Camacho	Exeter Chiefs, England
13		Marcelo Bosch	Saracens, England
12		Santiago Fernández	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
11		Horacio Agulla	Bath Rugby, England
10		Nicolás Sánchez	Union Bordeaux Bègles, France
9		Martin Landajo	Club Atletico San Isidro
8		Juan Manuel Leguizamón	RC Toulonnais, France
7		Pablo Matera	Asociación Alumni
6		Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Capt.)	Sale, England
5		Julio Farías Cabello	London Welsh, England
4		Manuel Carizza	Racing Metro 92, France
3		Juan Figallo	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
2		Eusebio Guiñazú	Bath Rugby, England
1		Marcos Ayerza	Leicester Tigers
16		Agustín Creevy	Worcester Warriors, England
17		Nahuel Lobo	Newcastle Falcons, England
18		Juan Pablo Orlandi	Bath Rugby, England
19		Mariano Galarza	Leinster, Ireland
20		Benjamín Macome	Tucuman Rugby
21		Tomás Cubelli	Belgrano Athletic
22		Felipe Contepomi	Stade Français, France
23		Lucas González Amorosino	Montpellier Hérault Rugby, France
		HEAD COACH: Santiago Phelan

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