SATURDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2024 SKY STADIUM,WELLINGTON, NZ
Los Pumas Prepare for Tough Rugby Championship with Two Tests in New Zealand
Following the July inbound Tests, Los Pumas are gearing up for a challenging schedule with their sights set on the Visa Banco Macro Rugby Championship. Their campaign begins with two matches in New Zealand: the first Test against the All Blacks on Saturday, August 10 at Sky Stadium in Wellington, and the second on Saturday, August 17 at the iconic Eden Park in Auckland.
The Pumas enter The Rugby Championship with two victories and one defeat from the July Window, while the All Blacks, under new head coach Scott Robertson, have secured three consecutive wins—two against England and one against Fiji. The last encounter between the teams was in the semi-finals of the 2023 World Cup in France, where the All Blacks triumphed 44-6.
Pumas Squad Announced: Six Returnees and One Debutant for New Zealand Tour
For the tour of New Zealand, Felipe Contepomi has named a 31-player squad, featuring six returning players and one debutant. Lucio Cinti, Agustín Creevy, Juan Martín González, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Mallía, and Joel Sclavi are returning to the team after missing the July Tests due to their participation in the 2023 World Cup in France. Efraín Elías, the captain of Los Pumitas in the recent U20 World Cup, will make his debut with the senior Los Pumas squad.
Jerónimo de la Fuente Out of 2024 Rugby Championship Due to Personal Reasons
Jerónimo de la Fuente, the Rosario player who recently achieved 80 caps with Los Pumas, will not participate in the 2024 Rugby Championship due to personal reasons.
Argentina.
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Juan Martín González, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Efraín Elías, 21 Joaquín Oviedo, 22 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 23 Tomás Albornoz.
Some may remember Pablo Matera who played for the Crusaders team in Super Rugby under Razor Robertson a couple of years ago.
All Blacks’ New Lock Pair: Sam Darry and Tupou Vaa’i to Start Against Argentina
For the All Blacks Blues lock Sam Darry will make his starting debut for the All Blacks in their opening game of the Rugby Championship, against Argentina in Wellington on Saturday.
Darry has been given a starting role alongside Tupou Vaa’i in what will be just his second test for New Zealand, following Patrick Tuipulotu’s calf injury sustained in training this week. This injury leaves the All Blacks without their two first-choice locks.
Captain Scott Barrett and Tuipulotu Ruled Out for All Blacks’ Opening Matches
Captain Scott Barrett had already been ruled out for the first two matches against Argentina due to undergoing surgery to repair an injured finger.
Tuipulotu’s absence will further test the All Blacks’ depth in a position they were already light in following the international retirements of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock last year.
Darry only made his All Blacks debut off the bench in their 47-5 win over Fiji in San Diego last month, after initially being named in the squad as injury cover following a breakout Super Rugby Pacific campaign with the champion Blues.
Josh Lord, who was brought into the squad as injury cover for Barrett ahead of the Rugby Championship, will start on the bench for the first game against Argentina.
Lord made only three appearances during an injury-plagued Super Rugby season with the Chiefs.
The four-test international returned to action for the first time since March 16 in a pre-season game for Taranaki last weekend.
TJ Perenara to Start at Halfback for All Blacks Following Injury Recovery
Elsewhere, TJ Perenara has been named to start at halfback following his recovery from the knee injury he sustained in the first test against England in Dunedin.
The big selection call comes in the No. 13 jersey where Anton Lienert-Brown’s strong performance at second-five against Fiji has earned him a start at centre ahead of Rieko Ioane and Billy Proctor.
Ioane will start from the bench alongside Will Jordan, who has been cleared to make his return after fighting back from a long-term shoulder injury.
Will Jordan Returns to All Blacks Squad After Long-Term Shoulder Injury
Jordan scored a hat-trick when the All Blacks defeated Argentina 44-6 in the semifinals of last year’s Rugby World Cup, but he has not featured for New Zealand since the final.
Despite his eye-catching performance on debut against Fiji, there was no room for Proctor in the match-day 23.
Ethan Blackadder Takes Blindside Flanker Role with Luke Jacobson Injured
Ethan Blackadder will start at blindside flanker, as Luke Jacobson was not considered due to a hamstring injury sustained in training.
Ardie Savea will captain the All Blacks in his hometown in Scott Barrett’s absence.
ALL BLACKS
Beauden Barrett, Sevu Reece, Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Mark Tele’a, Damian McKenzie, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea (capt), Dalton Papali’i, Ethan Blackadder, Sam Darry, Tupou Vaa’i, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot. Reserves: Asafo Aumua, Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Fletcher Newell, Josh Lord, Wallace Sititi, Cortez Ratima, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan.
Referee. Angus Gardner (Australia),Assistant Referees, Nic Berry (Australia), Andrea Piardi (Italy)
TMO, Brett Cronan (Australia)
Prediction.
I will go with the Black team .They should be too good at home, and the Argentines are prone to giving away penalties.
Mean while the Wallabies take on South Africa at a sold out Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane on Saturday night.
Wallabies
15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Filipo Daugunu, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Isaac Kailea
Reserves. 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Luke Reimer, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Dylan Pietsch.
South Africa
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Cheslin Kolbe, 13 Jesse Kriel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (c), 5 RG Snyman, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Ox Nche
Reserves. 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Gerhard Steenekamp, 18 Vincent Koch, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marco van Staden, 21 Kwagga Smith, 22 Grant Williams, 23 Handré Pollard
Referee. Luke Pearce ,England, Assistant Referees, Paul Williams ,NZ, Hollie Davidson, Scotland, TMO. Ben Whitehouse ,Wales.
Prediction.
For an upset to happen, the Wallabies will need to weather the undoubted storm that is coming at scrum time. Despite losing to Ireland in the second test in July, the Boks dominated a highly regarded Irish scrum to such an extent that it was not even a contest across the two tests. Should Bok loosehead Ox Nche get under Wallabies captain Allan Alaatoa early, then the contest could be all but over by half-time.
Given the Wallabies’ improvement, this contest will be closer than many expect, but the Boks should have enough to get over the line.
The Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup.
The Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup Schedule
Wallabies v South Africa, 2:30pm AEST, Saturday August 10 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Wallabies v South Africa, 5:45pm AWST, Saturday August 17 at Optus Stadium, Perth
Wallabies v Argentina, 8:00 am AEST, Sunday September 1 at Estadio Uno, La Plata
Wallabies v Argentina, 5:00 am AEST, Sunday September 8 at Estadio Colon, Santa Fe
Wallabies v New Zealand, 3:45pm AEST, Saturday September 21 at Accor Stadium, Sydney
Wallabies v New Zealand, 5:05pm AEST, Saturday September 28 at Sky Stadium, Wellington
End of Year Tour
Wallabies v England, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday November 10, Twickenham, London
Wallabies v Wales, 3:10am AEDT, Monday November 18, Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Wallabies v Scotland, 12:40am AEDT, Monday November 25, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Wallabies v Ireland, 2:10am, Sunday December 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
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