It’s been several years since the last weekend of the Rugby Championship was needed to determine the champion and the first time Argentina could take home the trophy!
After they stunned the Springboks by one-point last week in Santiago, the Pumas and Springboks return to South Africa for the return fixture that will see this year’s champions crowned.
Meanwhile, the Wallabies will cross the Tasman and take on New Zealand at the Cake Tin, a not so happy hunting ground for the All Blacks as of late. Although the Bledisloe Cup is no longer on the line, the Wallabies do still remain a mathematical chance to lift themselves from the bottom of the table and consign New Zealand to the wooden spoon.
Read on as we bring you the latest team news below and look ahead to the Round 6 clashes.
Saturday, September 21
New Zealand vs. Australia, Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5:05pm AEST [7:05 NZT, 9:05am SAST, 4:05am ARG]
New Zealand: Will Jordan, Sevu Reece, Reiko Ioane, Anton Leinert-Brown, Caleb Clarke, Beauden Barrett, TJ Perenara, Ardie Savea, Sam Cane, Wallace Sititi, Tupou Vaa’i, Scott Barrett, Tyrel Lomax, Codie Taylor, Ethan de Groot.
Replacements: Asafo Aumua, Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi, Patrick Tuipulotu, Luke Jacobson, Cortez Ratima, Damian McKenzie, David Havili
Australia: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Piestch, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson, Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell.
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Josh Flook.
Team news: Scott Robertson has brought in the changes with Beauden Barrett handed the playmaking reins following last week’s tight win over the Wallabies.
The backline shuffle has also seen Anton Leinert-Brown moved into the vacant inside centre role with Jordie Barrett ruled out with a knee injury, while Will Jordan has retained his role at fullback and Damian McKenzie has been relegated to the bench. Meanwhile, TJ Perenara has moved into starting halfback with Cortez Ratima on the bench.
The Wallabies have made several changes of their own with Dylan Pietsch handed his first start, named on the wing to replace Marika Koroibete. He makes one of two changes to the starting side with Jake Gordon returning to the No.9 jersey with Tate McDermott retaining his place on the bench.
It’s the first time this year Joe Schmidt has named an unchanged starting forward pack with Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou again packing down in the front row, while Fraser McReight will again start at No.7.
The only other changes see Isaac Kailea returning to the bench alongside Ben Donaldson and Josh Flook.
Prediction:
South Africa vs. Argentina, Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit, 5pm SAST [3am Sun NZT, 1am Sun AEST, 12pm ARG]
Replacements: Malcolm Marx, Gerhard Steenekamp, Vincent Koch, Elrigh Louw, Kwagga Smith, Cobus Reinach, Handre Pollard, Lukhanyo Am
Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Pedro Delgado, Franco Molina, Pablo Matera, Lautaro Bazan Velez, 2Lucio Cinti, Juan Cruz Mallia.
Team news: Lock Eben Etzebeth will become the most capped South African international of all time on Saturday, while Manie Libbok has been handed a rare start despite his recent kicking woes.
Rassie Erasmus has run the changes through his side after he made 10 changes a week earlier. Erasmus has brought in the firepower with Cheslin Kolbe return to the wing, Damian de Allende at inside centre, Pieter-Steph du Toit and Siya Kolisi in the back-row, Etzebeth in the second-row, Frans Malherbe and Bongi Mbonambi in the front-row.
Handre Pollard will get his chance off the bench as one of three backs along with scrumhalf Cobus Reinach and centre Lukhanyo Am.
The Pumas have meanwhile made eight changes to the team that held on for a nail-biting win last weekend.
In the pack, there is a new locking combination in Pedro Rubiolo and Tomas Lavanini, while flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez replaces Pablo Matera in a surprise move as the latter drops to the bench. Santiago Grondona completes the loose-forward trio as a replacement for the injured Marcos Kremer.
Coach Felipe Contepomi has then shaken up his backline, with Santiago Carreras coming in at fullback, Rodrigo Isgro on the wing, Matias Moroni at outside centre and Gonzalo Garcia at scrum-half.
Prediction:
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2024-09-27 01:42:44
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