All Blacks hooker Andrew Hore expects Argentina to play to their strengths and take New Zealand on up front in Wellington on Saturday.
Having beaten the Wallabies 27-19 and 22-0 over the past two weeks, New Zealand will look to cement their position atop the Rugby Championship standings with a third consecutive win.
Argentina opened their debut campaign with a 27-6 loss to South Africa in Cape Town before holding the Springboks 16-16 in a forward dominated contest in Mendoza last weekend.
"They are pretty tough up front traditionally," said Hore, a 67-Test All Black veteran.
"I've been lucky enough to play them three times and they definitely give you a hard time at scrum time (while) they play to their strengths I think."
"They have the same attitude as most people (and teams). Get some dominance up front and go from there. They've done it well so far as they've been brought up to play rugby much like the French people they take pride in being big and strong."
Comments
Carpelone says...
New Zealand's training suit? A joke. Let's call them All Pinks.
Posted 20:26 04th September 2012
cuw3100 says...
not seen the Argies play recently, but in the past their packs have been big slow brutes, especially the front and 2nd rows. seriously some of those props and 2nd rows look like Hummers on feet :)
the secret of MIB has been the speed and strength more than size (though they are by no means small units); also their ability to sustain intensity late in the game when the body has gone thru hit after hit.
one must admire the commitment of guys like thorn mccaw hore woodcock mealamu who manage 80 minutes in the modern game at their advanced age (ok thorn retired but he was there till end of world cup).
just wonder how these guys would look after a decade or so; saw ALI at the olympics and he was unrecognizable OMG!!!! its due to all the blows he took on the head and body during a prolonged career.
Posted 06:25 04th September 2012