NEW ZEALAND v ARGENTINA

NEW ZEALAND v ARGENTINA

When: Saturday September 8, 7.35pm

Where: Westpac Stadium, Wellington

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Head-to-Head: Played 14, All Blacks 13, Drawn 1, Pumas 0

In Wellington: Played 3, All Blacks 3, Pumas 0

Last match: October 9, 2011, RWC quarter-final: All Blacks beat Argentina 33-10 at Eden Park, Auckland

THE PUMAS hit Australasia after a more competitive than expected opening to the Rugby Championship.

They are coming off a 16-all draw with the Springboks in Mendoza in a match they could well have won had they not made some key late errors. But there is no doubt they can give the All Blacks a hard time if they stick to their knitting and structures. If they are loose and fall off tackles, the All Blacks will make them pay for it, as they did Australia last month.

As many as 13 of those Pumas who started the RWC quarter-final against the All Blacks in 2011 could be lining up again – only Mario Ledesma and Felipe Contepomi have retired. The other good news is that flanker Juan Manuel Leguizamon and first five Juan Martin Hernandez appear to be over injuries that ruled them out of the last test.

It is highly likely the Pumas will kick for position and kick to regain possession. That is fine, playing to one’s strengths and all that, but they kick down the throat of the likes of Israel Dagg and Cory Jane at their peril. The gnarly veteran loosehead prop Rodrigo Roncero will be out to put some heat on Owen Franks in the scrums, while lock Patricio Albacete knows every trick in the lineout book and will seek to take Brodie Retallick to school.

Tony Woodcock is back in the No 1 jersey. Julian Savea has also been given a start on the left wing on his home ground.

Forget the 93-8 hammering of 1997 by the All Blacks in Wellington. This is a different ground, a different competition, and most definitely a Pumas outfit better equipped and fitter to deal with whatever the All Blacks may look to fire at them.

source rugbynews.co.nz