Round 3 In The Rugby Championship Looms
Round 3 In The Rugby Championship Looms
The All Blacks are once again in command in the Rugby Championship and are heavily favored going into this weekend's home game against Argentina.
The All Blacks are once again in command in the Rugby Championship and are heavily favored going into this weekend's home game against Argentina.
The visiting Pumas face New Zealand on Saturday in New Plymouth -- a relatively small host city for an All Blacks game, but one deserving of a chance to host its rugby heroes. Kieran Read captains the New Zealand side in his 103rd appearance.
"We've had a great buildup here in New Plymouth," All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said. "It's a real rugby city and the people have made us feel really welcome, so we're all looking forward to Saturday."
At 0-2, the Pumas are shaking up their lineup and looking to get some momentum going. They got a nice welcome at New Plymouth's tiny airport.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/lospumas/status/905735529433464832" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Those two teams have played 24 times, and New Zealand has won 23 of those meetings, with one game being tied.
South Africa, in fact, leads the Rugby Championship standings with a better points difference than New Zealand. But to create a true showdown for the title in Round 4 and Round 6, the Springboks have to beat Australia on Saturday.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to Australia's lineup prior to hosting South Africa in Perth. Tatafu Polota-Nau will start at hooker, and Sekope Kepu comes in at prop. Adam Coleman returns to the starting lineup after having to pull out from the last New Zealand clash.
Interestingly, Cheika released 12 team members to play in Australia's National Rugby Championship, and three players remain in the NRC for Round 3.
Meanwhile, South Africa has a lot hanging on this meeting. The Springboks stood up nicely against Argentina, but this is a different matter entirely.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Francoishougi/status/905782271000457216" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
The visiting Pumas face New Zealand on Saturday in New Plymouth -- a relatively small host city for an All Blacks game, but one deserving of a chance to host its rugby heroes. Kieran Read captains the New Zealand side in his 103rd appearance.
"We've had a great buildup here in New Plymouth," All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen said. "It's a real rugby city and the people have made us feel really welcome, so we're all looking forward to Saturday."
At 0-2, the Pumas are shaking up their lineup and looking to get some momentum going. They got a nice welcome at New Plymouth's tiny airport.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/lospumas/status/905735529433464832" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Those two teams have played 24 times, and New Zealand has won 23 of those meetings, with one game being tied.
New Zealand |
Argentina |
---|---|
1. Joe Moody | 1. Lucas Noguera Paz. |
2. Dane Coles | 2. Agustin Creevy (C) |
3. Nepo Laulala | 3. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro |
4. Luke Romano | 4. Guido Petti |
5. Brodie Retallick | 5. Matias Alemanno |
6. Vaea Fifita | 6. Pablo Matera |
7. Ardie Savea | 7. Javier Ortega Desio |
8. Kieran Read (C) | 8. Benjamin Macome |
9. TJ Perenara | 9. Tomas Cubelli |
10. Beauden Barrett | 10. Nicolas Sanchez |
11. Nehe Milner-Skudder | 11. Emiliano Boffelli |
12. Sonny Bill Williams | 12. Jeronimo de la Fuente |
13. Anton Lienert-Brown | 13. Matias Moroni |
14. Israel Dagg | 14. Santiago Cordero |
15. Damian McKenzie | 15. Joaquin Tuculet |
Reserves | Reserves |
16. Codie Taylor | 16. Julian Montoya |
17. Wyatt Crockett | 17. Santiago Garcia Botta |
18. Ofa Tu'ungafasi | 18. Enrique Pieretto Heilan |
19. Scott Barrett | 19. Marcos Kremer |
20. Sam Cane | 20. Tomas Lezana |
21. Tawera Kerr-Barlow | 21. Martin Landajo |
22. Lima Sopoaga | 22. Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias |
23. Ngani Laumape | 23. Matias Orlando. |
South Africa, in fact, leads the Rugby Championship standings with a better points difference than New Zealand. But to create a true showdown for the title in Round 4 and Round 6, the Springboks have to beat Australia on Saturday.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made four changes to Australia's lineup prior to hosting South Africa in Perth. Tatafu Polota-Nau will start at hooker, and Sekope Kepu comes in at prop. Adam Coleman returns to the starting lineup after having to pull out from the last New Zealand clash.
Interestingly, Cheika released 12 team members to play in Australia's National Rugby Championship, and three players remain in the NRC for Round 3.
Meanwhile, South Africa has a lot hanging on this meeting. The Springboks stood up nicely against Argentina, but this is a different matter entirely.
[tweet url="https://twitter.com/Francoishougi/status/905782271000457216" hide_media="0" hide_thread="1"]
Australia |
South Africa |
---|---|
1. Scott Sio | 1. Tendai Mtawarira |
2. Tatafu Polota-Nau | 2. Malcolm Marx |
3. Sekope Kepu | 3. Coenie Oosthuizen |
4. Rory Arnold | 4. Eben Etzebeth |
5. Adam Coleman | 5. Pieter-Steph du Toit |
6. Ned Hanigan | 6. Siya Kolisi |
7. Michael Hooper (C) | 7. Jaco Kriel |
8. Sean McMahon | 8. Uzair Cassiem |
9. Will Genia | 9. Ross Cronje |
10. Bernard Foley | 10. Elton Jantjies |
11. Reece Hodge | 11. Courtnall Skosan |
12. Kurtley Beale | 12. Jan Serfontein |
13. Tevita Kuridrani | 13. Jesse Kriel |
14. Henry Speight | 14. Raymond Rhule |
15. Israel Folau | 15. Andries Coetzee. |
Reserves | Reserves |
16. Jordan Uelese | 16. Bongi Mbonambi |
17. Tom Robertson | 17. Steven Kitshoff |
18. Allan Alaalatoa | 18. Trevor Nyakane |
19. Rob Simmons | 19. Lood de Jager |
20. Jack Dempsey | 20. Jean-Luc du Preez |
21. Nick Phipps | 21. Francois Hougaard |
22. Samu Kerevi | 22. Handre Pollard |
23. Curtis Rona | 23. Damian de Allende. |
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