Pumas vs All Blacks

Bovidae

Damian McKenzie has been ruled out of the Rugby Championship test against Argentina on Sunday due to a family bereavement.

He will return to the side for the South Africa leg.

antipodean

That's sad. He makes a real point of difference when he comes on late in games.

Bovidae

It might also mean more changes to the 23. Mo'unga will come onto the bench but JB won't be needed if he was to be named in the squad as BB would now cover 15, instead of DMac moving there in the 2nd half and BFA going to the right wing.

Nepia

antipodean said:

That's sad. He makes a real point of difference when he comes on late in games.

I think he was going to get a start at 15 on no evidential basis of course, just Mabo.

taniwharugby

@nepia I reckon he was gonna start 9 in this test, just a feeling..guess we will never know now though

akan004

Could be an ugly match to watch. Thunderstorms are forecasted for Saturday night in BA.

KiwiMurph

http://www.allblacks.com/News/33148/all-blacks-team-named-for-buenos-aires-test

The matchday 23 is as follows (with Test caps in brackets. * new cap):

1. Karl Tu'inukuafe (7) 
2. Codie Taylor (36) 
3. Ofa Tuungafasi (20) 
4. Samuel Whitelock (103) - captain  
5. Scott Barrett (23) 
6. Shannon Frizell (3) 
7. Sam Cane (58) 
8. Luke Whitelock (6)
9. TJ Perenara (49)  
10. Beauden Barrett (67) 
11. Rieko Ioane (18) 
12. Sonny Bill Williams (47) 
13. Ryan Crotty (39) 
14. Waisake Naholo (22) 
15. Ben Smith (72) 

16. Nathan Harris (16)
17. Tim Perry (3) 
18. Angus Ta'avao * 
19. Patrick Tuipulotu (17) 
20. Ardie Savea (29) 
21. Aaron Smith (77) 
22. Richie Mo'unga (2) 
23. Anton Lienert-Brown (28)

ALB better be ready to play some long minutes.

antipodean

Jesus, it's the year for props to have an early Christmas isn't it?

Tim

Well it's a strong backline ...

Machpants

If the weather is shite it'll be tough and Beaudy better have his tactical kicking boots on! SBW will have to play 80 when Crotty goes off early, or Reiko to 13....
@Tim I think the front row is fine too. Locks and loosies will have to step up in the tackle/break down.

Stargazer

The reserve front-row is a worry.

Bones

Wow, good on Ta'avao! What a year for him. I'm not that worried about the FR, apart from hooker. Perry has shown he deserves to be there so far, Ta'avao has been very good this year.

I'm more worried about what happens when SBW and Crotty disappear before halftime and Naholo/Smith gets an injury. TJP to the wing again I guess.

Bovidae

Yep, well done Angus Ta'avao.

Is the Arg scrum any better than the Jaguares? They weren't very good.

Machpants

They were poor at scrum in Nelson, it's the break down where they compete better.

Bovidae

Bidwell was on the money with his team - NOT!!

Stargazer

@bovidae He never is.

Duluth

Bones said:

Wow, good on Ta'avao! What a year for him. I'm not that worried about the FR, apart from hooker. Perry has shown he deserves to be there so far, Ta'avao has been very good this year.

Every prop is either a current or former Blues player. Three of them deserve to be there. Perry is a steaming pile of poo

Stargazer

JC

What exactly am I missing with Nathan Harris? He must be pretty good but I’m just not seeing it.

KiwiMurph

@jc you're not missing it. He's missing lineout throws.

The Silver Fern

Pumas vs All Blacks