BUENOS AIRES: Argentina are looking to maintain the momentum from the Jaguares’ remarkable Super Rugby season as they bid for a first ever victory over New Zealand when the Rugby Championship kicks-off today.
Just two months before the start of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, reigning champions the All Blacks have named five uncapped players in the 23-man match day squad as coach Steve Hansen looks at some of his potential options.
Hansen has rested eight players from the Super Rugby-winning Canterbury Crusaders, a luxury that Pumas coach Mario Ledesma could not afford as all but five of his squad play for the Jaguares.
Ledesma has named 13 players that started the Jaguares’ 19-3 Super Rugby final defeat to New Zealand’s Canterbury Crusaders.
The former Jaguares coach said Argentina have only learnt from their rivals and the franchise system that has served New Zealand rugby so well.
“They’ve been professional for many years, they’ve been dealing with this kind of thing for much longer,” said Ledesma of the All Blacks.
“It’s only recently that we’ve been seeing the new generation, like what happened this year in Super Rugby and with the Pumas, who are all lads from the system.
“They’re all lads trained here, who play here, who weren’t developed anywhere else and who are the first such generations we’re seeing.”
Only Toulon fly-half Nicolas Sanchez, Argentina’s all-time record points-scorer, and Saracens prop Juan Figallo have been added to a Jaguares team that won 11 of its final 13 matches during the Super Rugby season.
“We have the utmost respect for Argentina. We know that we’ll be facing a confident, physical side,” said Hansen.
“Their players will have taken a lot of confidence and self-belief from the Jaguares Super Rugby season, and with the inclusion of their overseas players, there will be added excitement to their group.
“They will see this game as a massive opportunity to make a statement and it will be our job to make a statement of our own.”
Hansen has picked one Crusaders player in debutant Sevu Reece, a 22-year-old Fijian-born wing.
He’s been rewarded for a stunning 15-try Super Rugby season, while there will be four more uncapped players on the bench.
With skipper Kieran Read among the rested Crusaders, flanker Sam Cane will wear the armband, for only the third time in his 61-Test career. Auckland Blues pair Sonny Bill Williams and Rieko Ioane miss out, the former due to a hamstring strain while the latter is being rested. – AFP
