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[2019 Rugby Championship] Round 1: Argentina v New Zealand (20/07/2019)

saulan

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Venue: Estadio Jose Amalfitani
Time: 20:05 CAT (SA, GMT+2)
 
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Well, as I was saying in another thread, I think this is the best chance we have had in years (was about to write decades..). We are locals, peaked in SR and we have the euro based players adition. On the other hand, they are fielding a B team with non crusaders players (or some of them to be fair) and this is the first match of them together in many time. Even Hansen said that their priority is the RWC (everybody's priority to be honest) but then the Bledisloe. I hope Ledesma do the opossite and play AUS or SA with subs and NZ "with all the meat in the grill".

That said we are still underdogs but I think the gap have never been reduced like this match: Pumas by +4.... :eek:
 
VERY excited for this matchup, it'll be very interesting to see how many of the Argentinian plays who played in the SR Final will bounce back, which in turn should be telling for the World Cup.. I understand it's almost a 'B' squad for the All-Blacks (or at least, there is a no Crusaders rule, yes?), so if the Pumas can't beat them at home, that will be a bad sign...

This is my first summer where I'm getting to catch these incredible warm-up games (found how to watch the Pacific Nations Cup, as well), and this will be my first World Cup, so needless to say, I'm pretty psyched!
 
Well, as I was saying in another thread, I think this is the best chance we have had in years (was about to write decades..). We are locals, peaked in SR and we have the euro based players adition. On the other hand, they are fielding a B team with non crusaders players (or some of them to be fair) and this is the first match of them together in many time. Even Hansen said that their priority is the RWC (everybody's priority to be honest) but then the Bledisloe. I hope Ledesma do the opossite and play AUS or SA with subs and NZ "with all the meat in the grill".

That said we are still underdogs but I think the gap have never been reduced like this match: Pumas by +4.... :eek:

I agree NZ is vulnerable and there for the taking without their main 9 Crusaders

After the NZ game I hope the Pumas send a 2nd side to AUS and allow Jaguares players to rest for 2 weeks

Before going hard again for 2 games vs SA Though I wouldn't mind a few Jaguares XV training with the Pumas

and even making the matchday 23 for the game in Pretoria
 
will be very interesting to see if the winner of the Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations can actually go on to also win the Rugby World Cup...

This has not been done before...
 
AB's named, not really a B team, maybe A- or B+

1. Ofa Tuungafasi (26)
2. Dane Coles (60)
3. Angus Ta'avao (3)
4. Brodie Retallick (75)
5. Patrick Tuipulotu (21)
6. Vaea Fifita (9)
7. Sam Cane - captain (58)
8. Ardie Savea (35)
9. Aaron Smith (82)
10. Beauden Barrett (73)
11. Jordie Barrett (9)
12. Ngani Laumape (10)
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (33)
14. Sevu Reece *
15. Ben Smith (72)
16. Liam Coltman (4)
17. Atu Moli *
18. Nepo Laulala (17)
19. Jackson Hemopo (3)
20. Luke Jacobson *
21. Brad Weber (1)
22. Josh Ioane *
23. Braydon Ennor *
 
Actually this team might be too strong sadly, bench is kinda weak for an AB team but still.
 
will be very interesting to see if the winner of the Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations can actually go on to also win the Rugby World Cup...
It seems like a lot of nations are sandbagging, I don't think the teams that really want to win the RWC care about winning the (incredibly poorly-named) Rugby Championship... Steve Hanson has already kinda hinted that losing a game might not be the worst thing in the world for his team, so I expect some less-than-full-powered sides ... at the same time, I think this will give us all a great chance to see some top-level competition between the people who will be the stars of tomorrow...
 
It seems like a lot of nations are sandbagging, I don't think the teams that really want to win the RWC care about winning the (incredibly poorly-named) Rugby Championship... Steve Hanson has already kinda hinted that losing a game might not be the worst thing in the world for his team, so I expect some less-than-full-powered sides ... at the same time, I think this will give us all a great chance to see some top-level competition between the people who will be the stars of tomorrow...
Unfortunately a symptom of being in a World Cup year, it's just a fact of rugby that everyone uses the RC as a stepping stone for the World Cup, even the comp itself is halved in terms of games played.
Right or wrong it's just a reality, I'm looking forward to the RC because I love any and all international rugby, but the results aren't necessarily indicative of anything.

Just to clarify this point - in the past 7 years the only Rugby championship/Tri-nations that NZ have lost have been 2011 and 2015 (the last two World Cup years, which NZ went on to win).
 
Just to clarify this point - in the past 7 years the only Rugby championship/Tri-nations that NZ have lost have been 2011 and 2015 (the last two World Cup years, which NZ went on to win).
Now THAT is an impressive stat! :)
 
I'm really looking forward to this game. This maybe one of Argentina's better chances to beat the All Blacks. I think Argentina should employ a more traditional game plan which would mean maybe going more direct and taking NZ on in the forwards, I like the fact that Argentina have massively improved behind the scrum but I don't think expansive rugby will win them this game, going wide always runs the risk of turnover ball if you're inaccurate. I think the ABs will be rusty but should take the win by around 10 points. Although if Argentina start well it could be closer.
 
kinda amazing to see 5 players make test debuts in a WC year, which is good because I think we need to get the influence from some young form players this year but at the same time it is a function of crusaders players being rested.
I would have gone further and started Jacobson at 8. I wish they would drop the idea that Savea is a capable test 8, sure he's fine there in tests like this but IMO not once we hit WC finals time, like how is the smallest loose forward in the squad a #8? Fine most of the time but in the wrong situations its a weakness to exploit.
Also to me Jordie Barrett and Sevu are in a straight shootout for a starting wing spot on the right. Sevu is more imposing on attack but Jordie is tall, awesome under the high ball a brilliant kicker and no mug attacking either, to me there is no substitute to having high ball specialists at the back, I'd say having 3 world class ball takers at the back was a foundation for the WC win in '11
 
On the side of Los Pumas, two players could make their test debuts. Mayco Vivas in the front row and the scrum-half Felipe Ezcurra will be on the bench.
 
kinda amazing to see 5 players make test debuts in a WC year, which is good because I think we need to get the influence from some young form players this year but at the same time it is a function of crusaders players being rested.
I would have gone further and started Jacobson at 8. I wish they would drop the idea that Savea is a capable test 8, sure he's fine there in tests like this but IMO not once we hit WC finals time, like how is the smallest loose forward in the squad a #8? Fine most of the time but in the wrong situations its a weakness to exploit.
Also to me Jordie Barrett and Sevu are in a straight shootout for a starting wing spot on the right. Sevu is more imposing on attack but Jordie is tall, awesome under the high ball a brilliant kicker and no mug attacking either, to me there is no substitute to having high ball specialists at the back, I'd say having 3 world class ball takers at the back was a foundation for the WC win in '11
It's not about size, it's about strength. Ardie was successful at 8 last year. Better than read for instance. You need to take a cold shower re Ardie :p.

I kinda would have liked to have seen Jacobson start too. I think we want to make sure we win this one though, a tough one for a rusty team.
 
It seems like a lot of nations are sandbagging, I don't think the teams that really want to win the RWC care about winning the (incredibly poorly-named) Rugby Championship... Steve Hanson has already kinda hinted that losing a game might not be the worst thing in the world for his team, so I expect some less-than-full-powered sides ... at the same time, I think this will give us all a great chance to see some top-level competition between the people who will be the stars of tomorrow...

No team that has won the Tri-Nations/Rugby Championship has ever won the RWC in the same year

1999 - 3N (NZL) | WC (AUS)
2003 - 3N (NZL) | RWC (ENG)
2007 - 3N (NZL) | RWC (SAF)
2011 - 3N (AUS) | RWC (NZL)
2015 - RC (AUS) | RWC (NZL)
 
yes it is the best chance in years! the jags performance in super rugby and the fact that they been playng together for years, plus a more stable scrum by figallo a better fly halve desition making by sanchez. key positions both the highest payng positions.
in the sr rugby final jags failed exactly there: tight head and fly halve. both where targeted by the crusaders. and choked.
in addition this is almost a B ab team, plus home advantage. plus god is argentinian.
in the other hand unfortunatelly, these new guys. roberston reese etc are also having their chances to make it to the team for the wc.
nz by 10 sniff sniff
 

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