The All Blacks perform the Haka before the Rugby Championship in 2018. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
Argentina vs New Zealand – prediction, head-to-head, time, TV and scores
Here’s everything you need to know about the 2019 Rugby Championship match between Argentina and New Zealand.
The All Blacks perform the Haka before the Rugby Championship in 2018. Photo: EPA/KIM LUDBROOK
Considering the Jaguares’ exploits in this season’s Super Rugby, the matches between Argentina and the All Blacks at the 2019 Rugby Championship aren’t nearly as innocuous as some might expect.
While both sides, like the other teams ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, will use this as a way to put feelers out for what their squads might look like, the rugby won’t play second fiddle.
New Zealand confirmed earlier in the week that they will hand Fijian-born winger Sevu Reece his Test debut against the Pumas this weekend.
Coach Steve Hansen was forced to ring the changes for Saturday’s match in Buenos Aires after deciding to rest eight players from the Super Rugby-winning Canterbury Crusaders and losing veteran Sonny Bill Williams to injury.
Reece’s fast-track into the All Blacks continued after a sensational 15-try Super Rugby season that followed a domestic violence incident last year which almost derailed his career.
The 22-year-old is the only uncapped player to start the match but Hansen named another four debutants on the bench – utility back Braydon Ennor, halfback Josh Ioane, loose forward Luke Jacobson and prop Atu Moli.
“It’s going to be exciting to watch how the new All Blacks perform along with their more experienced teammates,” Hansen said. “The team is a mixture of experience and raw enthusiasm.”
Williams failed to recover from a hamstring strain and Hansen said winger Rieko Ioane missed out simply because he had already established himself at the top level ahead of the World Cup.
“We already know that he’s a very, very good test player,” Hansen said. “We need to find out about Sevu and some of those other selections we’ve made.”
New Zealand have never lost in 28 meetings with Argentina, although the South Americans managed a 21-21 draw in 1985.
Kick off time and how to watch
Kick off time is at 20:05 SAST and SuperSport 1 will screen the action live.
Prediction
As you already know, the All Blacks are strong favourites – they’ve never lost against Argentina. So, even with the travel time factored in and the new faces in the mix, New Zealand to win by 20.
