Rugby Championship Rd 3 Preview
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The Rugby Championship returns this weekend for the 3rd round of action, following the bye last weekend.
New Zealand vs Argentina
The first match of the weekend sees the best-ranked side in the world and current Rugby Championship champions All Blacks face off against Argentina.
The All Blacks have made a number of changes with Nehe Milner-Skudder making his first appearance in the black jersey since 2015.
Argentina have also made a number of changes with Santiago Cordero one of the biggest names returning to the starting lineup
Key Battles:
Dane Coles v Agustin Creevy
Contrasting styles in the middle of the scrum for both sides with Danes possessing a fantastic ball carrying and handling skills and Creevy providing an excessive amount of grunt to the Argentine pack.
However, the battle between these two will take place at the set pieces with both hookers hoping to provide clean front foot ball to their exciting backs.
The Halfbacks
TJ Perenara & Beauden Barrett vs Tomas Cubelli & Nicolas Sanchez
The Hurricanes pairing of TJ Perenara & Beauden Barrett will have the rare opportunity to start a test together and will face off against Tomas Cubelli & Nicolas Sanchez.
Barrett will be hoping his Canes teammate will help him dictate play, after receiving some flack from pundits throughout the year. Sanchez and Cubelli will be looking to reignite their form that guided Argentina to the World Cup semi finals in 2015.
The Outside Backs
Milner-Skudder, Dagg & McKenzie vs Boffelli, Cordero & Tuculet
Both sides have named exciting outside backs for this match with Milner-Skudder returning for the All Blacks and Cordero returning for Argentina.
Milner-Skudder has made 2.6 clean breaks per game across his Test career, more than any other player in the four TRC squads.
Boffelli has the most for Argentina averaging 1.8 per match.
All 6 of these players have the ability to turn the game on its head and are all blessed with fantastic speed and incredible skills. The ability of these players to finish the chances created by their forwards could decide the match.
Prediction:
The Argentines may improve in this match but it's hard to see that they will win their first match against the All Blacks in New Zealand, following back to back losses to South Africa.
All Blacks to win by 20+
Last time these two sides met in New Zealand.
Australia vs South Africa
The Wallabies will host the Springboks in front of an emotional NIB Stadium in Perth on Saturday.
It will be interesting to see the fans reaction to the Western Force being cut from Super Rugby in this match with calls for the fans to wear Western Force jerseys instead of Wallaby jerseys.
The Wallabies made two enforced changes to their starting XV with Tatafu Polota-Nau and Reece Hodge coming in for Stephen Moore & Dane Haylett-Petty respectively.
The Wallabies also have one uncapped player in their squad with 20-year-old Jordan Uelese on the bench. Learn more about Uelese here
The Springboks made 2 changes to their starting lineup with Pieter-Steph du Toit reuniting with his Stormers lock partner in the second row while Ross Cronje reclaims his starting jersey.
Handre Pollard has completed his return from injury and will make his return to the international stage for the first time sicne the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Key Battles
The Second Row
Rory Arnold & Adam Coleman vs Eben Etzebeth & Pieter-Steph du Toit
Eben Etzebeth has somehow been even better since taking over the captaincy in the absence of Warren Whiteley and one would assume that he will be even better when he packs down with his Stormers teammate.
Rory Arnold and Adam Coleman are a promising lock combination and will be looking to cement their spots in the lineup with plenty of competition nipping at their heels.
With these two sides so evenly matched in the past, it may just come down to set piece dominance on Saturday.
The Loose Trio
Hanigan, Hooper & McMahon vs Kolisi, Kriel & Cassiem
The Springbok loose trio were in fine form against Argentina and will relish the opportunity to get stuck into the Australians this weekend.
Siya Kolisi surprising leads the way in tries scored (3) in the tournament while Jaco Kriel is second on the list of tackles made (23).
Ned Hanigan will hope he can continue his solid start to his test career while Michael Hooper has been his usual busy self. Sean MacMahon was immense against the All Blacks and will be a real threat to the South Africans.
Bernard Foley vs Elton Jantjies
Both these two players have the ability to win or lose the game for their respective sides.
Jantjies has improved in leaps and bounds on the test arena so far this season with the playmaker improving his kicking percentage and his game management.
Foley, on the other hand, has been in fantastic form in open play but has struggled with his goal kicking.
Prediction:
South Africa have won 55% of their match against Australia and are unbeaten so far this year but have only won 12 of their 37 (32%) of their matches in Australia.
This match could go either way but be are backing the Boks to edge the Wallabies.
South Africa by +/- 7
The last time these two sides met in Australia
