Tri-Nations Rugby Championship Rd.5 Team vs Team Preview

It’s crunch time for New Zealand’s All Blacks. If they are to win the tournament they have to win this weekend.

Argentina will be aiming for their second win over New Zealand in Test rugby, following the Pumas’ inaugural triumph (25-15) over the All Blacks in their last meeting (14 November 2020).

New Zealand has lost each of their last two Tests, the last time the All Blacks went on a worse losing run was a five-match span from July to August in 1998.

Argentina v New Zealand Rugby Championship Rd.5 Preview

The All Blacks have played Los Pumas 30 times since 1985, the All Blacks have won 28 matches, lost once, and drawn once.

New Zealand’s 28 wins out of 30 Test matches gives them a record of winning 93% of their matches against Argentina regardless of venue.

This weekend the match will be played in Newcastle which is not the All Blacks’ normal home and a venue at which the teams have never met before in rugby.

New Zealand has played Argentina twice in neutral venues and in those matches, the All Blacks have won one and lost one.

The average score when the Kiwis play the Pumas in neutral venues is New Zealand 20 Argentina 20.

Argentina won the last of these clashes two weeks ago, the last time New Zealand beat Argentina at a neutral venue was in 2015.

The Bookies have given Argentina a 19 point start for this Match.

Average score: New Zealand 39 Argentina 15

Last five results:
14 Nov 2020 NZL v ARG 15-25 Parramatta Stadium, Sydney
20 Jul 2019 NZL v ARG 20-16 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
29 Sep 2018 NZL v ARG 35-17 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
08 Sep 2018 NZL v ARG 46-24 Trafalgar Park, Nelson
30 Sep 2017 NZL v ARG 36-10 Velez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires

New Zealand’s overall record against Argentina
Played 30, Wins 28, Losses 1, Draws 1

New Zealand’s winning percentage against Argentina = 93 %
Match: Argentina v New Zealand
Date: Saturday 28 November 2020
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Kick-Off local: 19:45
Referee: Nic Berry (RA)
Assistant Ref 1: Angus Gardner (RA)
Assistant Ref 2: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
TMO: Paul Williams (NZR)

Teams

New Zealand

15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Jordie Barrett, 13 Anton Lienert-Brown, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Akira Ioane, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Nepo Laulala, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Joe Moody

Replacements: 16 Codie Taylor, 17 Karl Tu’inukuafe, 18 Tyrel Lomax, 19 Patrick Tuipulotu, 20 Hoskins Sotutu, 21 TJ Perenara, 22 Rieko Ioane, 23 Will Jordan

Argentina

15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Juan Cruz Mallia, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas

Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Lucas Mensa