Pumas v All Blacks
Kickoff 9.10am, Sunday, 24 August NZT
Estadio Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Live blog updates on RNZ
Analysis: Coach Scott Robertson has cited the need for "battle hardened cohesion" in his selections for the All Blacks' second test against Argentina this weekend.
He's opted for only one change to his starting side from the opening 41-24 win in Córdoba, with Simon Parker to be unleashed on the Pumas in a rare All Black debut in the starting XV.
What can we make of, not only the side, but the overall strategy forming for the rest of the season? A win on Sunday would make it a 5-0 start, the best return since 2021, when Ian Foster's side won their first nine tests in a row.
"We hadn't played for a month and we needed a bit of battle-hardened cohesion in our group," said Robertson, who has clearly revealed that the Parker project would have taken place against France, had the Chiefs loose forward been fit.
Simon Parker will make a rare debut in the All Blacks starting line-up. Photo: Aaron Gillions/ActionPress
"We also needed the opportunity for Simon, who's had a couple of games under his belt in the NPC. Ardie's very good at seven and it's a tough call on Du'Plessis [Kirifi] - it's definitely not on form, as he's played well in every opportunity he's got."
While that's understandable, given the need to get Parker on the field, this does now make Estadio Vélez Sarsfield an interesting proving ground for competing theories around loose forwards - something Robertson is big on, considering that was where he played.
Parker now gives the loose forward trio some serious bulk, as he stands 1.97m and weighs a touch under 120kg. Despite Savea's obviously generational talent and Wallace Sititi's incredible potential, they are on the smaller side for test loosies and, with Kirifi there, the need for Tupou Vaa'i's height in the mix was apparent.
Selecting Tupou Vaa'i at flanker has given the All Blacks a very tall lineout. Photo: www.photosport.nz
Vaa'i stays at blindside, so now the All Blacks suddenly have an average height of 1.99m across their starting lineout options. Throw in Tamaiti Williams, Pasilio Tosi and Josh Lord off the bench, and that's six forwards over 1.93m (6ft 4in).
Last year, Robertson picked a pack that weighed 950kg, so that's the heaviest ever now followed by the tallest.
The more diminutive members of the All Black forwards are unlikely to be cast aside. Kirifi's agility and intelligence at the ruck are qualities that can't be made up for in sheer bulk, and Sititi will likely find his way back into the starting side to face South Africa in a fortnight.
With all due to respect to the Pumas, that's what this field testing is for. The Eden Park clash on 6 September has suddenly taken on a new dimension after the Springboks' shock loss to Australia at Ellis Park. Another sub-optimal performance this weekend in Cape Town would have the alarm bells blaring for coach Rassie Erasmus and his staff, as if the pressure of coming to a venue where the All Blacks haven't lost since 1994 wasn't big enough.
This is a conversation that could change dramatically, if the 'Boks and Pumas turn the tables on the Wallabies and All Blacks, which isn't out of the question at all.
Robertson and his side will almost certainly hope that the post-match chat will be more or less the same as last weekend, as in plenty to work on, but with another comfortable victory under their belts.
Just what tall timber is still standing when they run out against the 'Boks will be interesting.
Team lists
Pumas: 1. Mayco Vivas, 2. Julián Montoya (c), 3. Pedro Delgado, 4. Franco Molina, 5. Pedro Rubiolo, 6. Pablo Matera, 7. Juan Martín González, 8. Joaquín Oviedo, 9. Gonzalo García, 10. Tomás Albornoz, 11. Mateo Carreras, 12. Santiago Chocobares, 13. Lucio Cinti, 14. Bautista Delguy, 15. Juan Cruz Mallía
Bench: 16. Ignacio Ruiz, 17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Marcos Kremer, 21. Simón Benítez Cruz, 22. Santiago Carreras, 23. Justo Piccardo
All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett (c), 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa'i, 7. Ardie Savea, 8. Simon Parker, 9. Cortez Ratima, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan
Bench: 16. Samisoni Taukei'aho, 17. Tamaiti Williams, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Josh Lord, 20. Wallace Sititi, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie
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