The battle for world supremacy, at least according to the IRB rankings, takes place in Auckland. The winner takes the spoils. In Perth, meanwhile, Australia have it all to lose.
NEW ZEALAND vs SOUTH AFRICA
Saturday, September 14, 07:35 GMT, Auckland
As expected Steve Hansen has recalled the fit-again trio of Ma’a Nonu, Owen Franks, and Liam Messam to the starting lineup. Sam Cane replaces injured Richie McCaw at flank with Kieran Read again assuming the captaincy and new cap Matt Todd taking up a spot with the reserves. Curiously Dane Coles has been picked to face the fearsome Springbok duo of Bismarck du Plessis and Adriaan Strauss, with Keven Mealamu on the bench and Andrew Hore nowhere to be seen.
Heyneke Meyer has seen fit to retain the exact same lineup that demolished the Wallabies in Brisbane. Will his side be able to last the full 80 minutes? The same question was asked last week and they came through in spades. Still, there is a creeping doubt that this could be one game too far for his tired soldiers, and New Zealand are near unbeatable at Eden Park.
That said, this is not the fiercest looking All Blacks side we have seen in recent times. McCaw is a big loss for this game, and it’s hard to say which versions of Nonu and Messam will show up. Coles is a real surprise selection and it’s anyone’s guess how he will perform under the big time pressure. The Boks will give the men in black all they can handle but expect New Zealand to edge it barely by 5.
NEW ZEALAND
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Dan Carter, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Dane Coles, Owen Franks; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Liam Messam, Sam Cane, Kieran Read (capt.). RES: Keven Mealamu, Wyatt Crockett, Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Matt Todd, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.
SOUTH AFRICA
Zane Kirchner; Willie le Roux, J.J. Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt.), Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Flip van der Merwe; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. RES: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Juandre Kruger, Siya Kolisi, Jano Vermaak, Patrick Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
AUSTRALIA vs ARGENTINA
Saturday, September 14, 10:05 GMT, Perth
It’s anyone’s guess as to what Ewen McKenzie must be thinking, but obviously he thought he needed drastic changes and dropping star halfback Will Genia fits the bill. Nic White is handed his first test start under enormous pressure, and will partner with Queensland’s Quade Cooper instead of regular Brumbies partner Matt To’omua. Ben Mowen is handed the captaincy, and Ben Alexander returns at tighthead in place of Sekope Kepu, despite the latter considered the better scrummager. In somewhat more positive news, giant lock Sitaleki Timani returns to the bench after his proposed move to France was scuppered.
Argentina have made changes to keep the side fresh, recalling Agustin Creevy at hooker and Felipe Contepomi at centre. Tomas Cubelli replaces Martin Landajo at scrumhalf, and Juan Imhoff comes in for injured Gonzalo Camacho on the left wing. None of these changes weaken the side at all, and in fact might strengthen it.
The Pumas will be smelling blood here, and have arguably their best shot at a first victory in the Rugby Championship. Australia are woefully out of form and have turned to an untested halfback to save them, meanwhile Argentina are on the ascendency after their own desperately poor showing against the Springboks a month ago. Certainly on paper the Wallabies have the talent to win, but there is a sneaking suspicion that this might finally be the week of the Puma. The Argies score a famous victory, winning the battle by 6.
AUSTRALIA
Israel Folau; Nick Cummins, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, James O’Connor; Quade Cooper, Nic White; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas; Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen (capt.). RES: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Will Genia, Matt To’omua, Tevita Kuridrani.
ARGENTINA
Juan Martin Hernandez; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Marcos Ayerza, Agustin Creevy, Juan Figallo; Manuel Carizza, Julio Farias Cabello; Juan Fernandez Lobbe (capt.), Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon. RES: Eusebio Guinazu, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Mariano Galarza, Benjamin Macome, Martin Landajo, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Ray's Rugby 