New Zealand v Argentina: MORE Los Pumas than All Blacks in our combined XV as Wellington ‘masterclass’ rewarded
Round Two of the Rugby Championship kicks off on Saturday with the same match-ups again as the All Blacks host Los Pumas at Eden Park.
We put our heads together to come up with a combined XV for the two sides as the All Blacks look to bounce back after last weekend’s loss.
Mixed backline
15 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand): The two-time men’s World Rugby Player of the Year has shown his eternal class at every possible moment in the Scott Robertson era. Barrett’s one of those players who can turn a game on its head without any help and right now is absolutely critical for the All Blacks.
14 Will Jordan (New Zealand): The last time the All Black started against Argentina he scored a semi-final hat-trick at the World Cup last year. He will be desperate to do the same again and his coach will be hoping for the same. Jordan is prolific by nature and every time he takes to the pitch he is a try threat.
13 Rieko Ioane (New Zealand): Los Pumas star Lucio Cinti almost got the nod after scoring last weekend but the experience and quality of Ioane gets him the selection. The rapid centre is under pressure and will need to show his best to keep his spot.
12 Santiago Chocobares (Argentina): After his masterclass last weekend we couldn’t ignore the Toulouse man. Not only is the centre robust but he always makes good decisions on attack and has added some real dynamism in the Los Pumas midfield.
11 Mateo Carreras (Argentina): He could step you in a phone booth! The diminutive Los Pumas wing has been nothing but elusive in the blue and white stripes and is certainly in the category of the world’s elite wingers. Carreras can change a game, just give him the ball.
10 Santiago Carreras (Argentina): 18 points last time out for the Argentine playmaker who seems to thrive in big games. He had the attack purring as he pulled the strings in a memorable win. If Argentina go back-to-back he will be at the heart of it.
9 TJ Perenara (New Zealand): Despite some criticism, we still went with the veteran thanks to his vast experience and general nous around the base of the ruck. Perenara is the kind of player to produce a banging performance when he is under pressure.
Brutal pack
8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand): Simply has to be in the side, he is that good. Savea is one of the most consistent performers in the game and will look to lead by example this weekend. He is under pressure as a leader but we feel he will still produce the goods as he always does.
7 Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina): Pretty much wherever you want him in the back-row he will shine. Gonzalez was epic in the Wellington Test and combined so well with Pablo Matera. The flank is a hard-nosed loose forward with seemingly no limit to how much he can empty the tank. Can he back it up again after such an emotional performance last weekend?
6 Pablo Matera (Argentina): One of the greatest Los Pumas players there has ever been. Matera bleeds blue and white. Just about every big performance Argentina has had during his career was because he was leading the charge. A seriously good player who knows New Zealand soil very well.
5 Sam Darry (New Zealand): Some love for a Test rookie who is quickly turning a second-row shortage into his ticket to a more permanent spot in the squad. He will only get better and better, it is going to be fascinating to see how far he goes.
4 Marcos Kremer (Argentina): Often in the back-row but this time at lock but it doesn’t matter because the hulking Argentine is still incredibly frightening whatever the number on his back. It will be interesting to see if he has the same influence on the game but his quality alone gets him in ahead of Tupou Vaa’i.
3 Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand): The tighthead was probably frustrated that he didn’t get to scrum last weekend and will be ready to make it up at Eden Park. He is far more complete than just a scrummager as he always tried to keep himself busy in the loose.
2 Julian Montoya (Argentina): El Capitano returns this weekend and what a boost it is for Argentina. Montoya is a highly respected figure and one who will have his teammates ready to run through brick walls for him. His line-out throwing and scrummaging is very solid but it’s his ability to jackal and influence the breakdown that makes him such a threat to the All Blacks.
1 Thomas Gallo (Argentina): All Black Tamaiti Williams was within a shout but Gallo’s consistent improvement and mobility gets him the selection this time around. He is a strong scrummager but wouldn’t have minded playing more in the loose last time out. The loosehead needs to be on the money if they are to break the Eden Park win streak.