The Rugby Championship Round Two Preview

Argentina and Australia will be looking to bounce back after opening round defeats to South Africa and New Zealand respectively.

Australia travel to Auckland where they will look to upset the All Blacks at the fortress that is Eden Park while Argentina host the Springboks in Mendoza.

Round 2 (all times local)

Saturday 25 August: New Zealand v Australia @ Eden Park, Auckland (19:35)
Saturday 25 August: Argentina v South Africa @ Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza (17:05)

New Zealand v Australia (Bledisloe 2)

Past Results:

Matches played: 162
All Blacks won: 112
Australia won: 43
Draw: 7
Last match: Australia 13-38 New Zealand
Largest winning margin: New Zealand 43-6 Australia (1996)

TOP STAT

The All Blacks are undefeated in their last 41 Tests at Eden Park (W39, D2); their last defeat at the venue came in July 1994 against France. 

TEAMS

New Zealand

Steve Hanson sprung a surprise selection in his backline with Ngani Laumape leapfrogging Anton Lienert-Brown for a starting place alongside Jack Goodhue with Ryan Crotty being ruled out of the clash through injury.

The pack remains unchanged with Owen Franks set to make his 100th appearance in the black jersey while Jordie Barrett comes into the side for the injured Rieko Ioane with Ben Smith shifting to the wing.

Sam Cane did not train with the All Blacks during their captain run on Friday and could be replaced by Ardie Savea in the starting XV.  

1. Joe Moody 2. Codie Taylor 3. Owen Franks 4. Brodie Retallick 5. Samuel Whitelock 6. Liam Squire 7. Sam Cane 8. Kieran Read - captain 9. Aaron Smith 10. Beauden Barrett 11. Waisake Naholo 12. Ngani Laumape 13. Jack Goodhue 14. Ben Smith 15. Jordie Barrett

Reserves: 16. Nathan Harris 17. Karl Tu'inukuafe 18. Ofa Tuungafasi 19. Scott Barrett 20. Ardie Savea 21. TJ Perenara 22. Damian McKenzie 23. Anton Lienert-Brown

Australia:

Michael Cheika has made a number of changes to his side one of which seeing Jack Maddocks earn his first start in a Gold and Green jersey.

Dane Haylett-Petty starts in the 15 jersey with Israel Folau ruled out through injury while Cheika has also shaken up with front row with Scott Sio and Allan Alaalatoa coming into the starting XV with Tom Robertson and Sekope Kepu moving onto the bench.

Finally, there are two potential debuts on the bench for Brumbies duo Folau Faingaa and Tom Banks.

1. Scott Sio 2. Tatafu Polota-Nau 3. Allan Alaalatoa 4. Izack Rodda 5. Adam Coleman 6. Lukhan Tui 7. Michael Hooper (c) 8. David Pocock 9. Will Genia 10. Bernard Foley 11. Marika Koroibete 12. Kurtley Beale 13. Reece Hodge 14. Jack Maddocks 15. Dane Haylett-Petty

Reserves: 16. Folau Faingaa* 17. Tom Robertson 18. Sekope Kepu 19. Rob Simmons 20. Pete Samu 21. Nick Phipps 22. Matt Toomu 23. Tom Banks*

Argentina v South Africa

Past Results:

Matches Played: 27

Springbok Won: 24

Argentina Won: 2

Draw: 1

Last match: South Africa 34-21 Argentina

Largest winning margin: South Africa 73-13 Argentina (2013)

TOP STAT

The Springboks’ best performance in Argentina was in 2004 when they won with a margin of 32 (39-7) in Buenos Aires. Their highest score is 52 (52-23) in 1993, also in Buenos Aires. 

TEAMS

Argentina

Tomas Lavanini inclusion in the starting XV is the sole change to Mario Ledesma's starting XV as he looks to claim his first win as Los Pumas coach.

Facundo Bosch could make his debut off the bench after being called into the side from Top 14 side Agen while Tomás Cubelli returns to the side having last featured against New Zealand last year.

 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertanou, 8 Javier Ortego Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Augustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Reserves: 16 Facunda Bosch, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.

Springboks 

Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus has made just one change to his starting line up with Franco Mostert returning to the no.5 jersey in the place of Pieter-Steph du Toit.

The backline remains unchanged with further changes happening on the bench, RG Snyman replaces Marvin Orie while Pieter-Steph du Toit replaces Marco van Staaden. The final change sees Wilco Louw replace Thomas du Toit in the 18 jersey.

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Makazole Mapimpi, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Siya Kolisi (c), 6 Francois Louw, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Beast Mtawarira.

Reserves: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Wilco Louw, 19 RG Snyman, 20 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Damian Willemse.