Back in action! The Rugby Championship returns this weekend, and combined with the first leg of the Americas World Cup qualifier we have ourselves a fine Saturday of test rugby.
AUSTRALIA vs NEW ZEALAND
Saturday, August 17, 10:05 GMT, Sydney
The All Blacks travel across the Tasman to face a new-look Wallaby side featuring a new coach in Ewen McKenzie and a new flyhalf in Matt To’omua. Brumbies teammate Jesse Mogg gets a first start at fullback and three others hope to debut from the reserves. Highly touted loosehead Scott Sio, mobile second row Scott Fardy, and dynamic centre Tevita Kuridrani are all expected to see game time. Also returning after varying spells in the international wilderness are abrasive Hugh McMeniman, starting for the first time since 2008, and Quade Cooper, albeit on the bench, back after being dumped by Robbie Deans following last year’s tournament.
Richie McCaw returns from a break of his own, having skipped most of the Crusaders season, to lead a familiar All Blacks side that boasts 444 caps worth of experience in the forwards alone. That includes one-cap rookie Steven Luatua who fills in for hamstrung Liam Messam at blindside, and relative newcomer Luke Romano who looks like a seasoned veteran already after only fourteen caps. Aaron Cruden deputises once again for Dan Carter, absent with a calf strain, in an otherwise full strength backline.
Playing at home in front of thousands at the ANZ will no doubt boost the Wallabies, and they will want to usher in their new grand poobah in style, but the vast difference in test experience between the two should be the telling factor. Cruden has proved his mettle on the big stage and the vaunted midfield, even short of best form, have a habit of making fancied opposition look ordinary. New Zealand have too much class to lose and skip away at the end for a 12 point victory.
AUSTRALIA
Jesse Mogg; Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Christian Leali’ifano, James O’Connor; Matt To’omua, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Rob Simmons, James Horwill (capt.); Hugh McMeniman, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen. RES: Saia Fainga’a, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Scott Fardy, Liam Gill, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani.
NEW ZEALAND
Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Owen Franks; Luke Romano, Sam Whitelock; Steven Luatua, Richie McCaw (capt.), Kieran Read. RES: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Brodie Retallick, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Ryan Crotty.
SOUTH AFRICA vs ARGENTINA
Saturday, August 17, 15:00 GMT, Johannesburg
Heyneke Meyer has sprung few surprises with a predictable side picked to play a tactical game. Despite recalling Fourie du Preez from Japan, the number nine jersey instead goes to Ruan Pienaar whose massive kicking game is sure to keep the Pumas outside backs on high alert. Gurthro Steenkamp and Bismarck du Plessis must also settle for bench spots, through France-bound trio Morne Steyn, Bryan Habana and Juandre Kruger all feature in the first XV.
Argentina have selected an intriguing lineup that includes two members of the impressive u20 side, tighthead Matias Diaz and openside Pablo Matera, and a certain not-quite-retired Felipe Contepomi, who skippers from centre. Nicolas Sanchez is selected at ten, with Juan Martin Hernandez looking to counter the Springbok kicking game with a big boot of his own. Aging Julio Farias Cabello gives way to new Worcester signing Leonardo Senatore in the back row, and towering lock Mariano Galarza hopes to get his first taste of Championship rugby after missing last year’s tournament through injury.
This should be an interesting match with both sides likely to play more of a territorial game than an expansive one. South Africa have home field advantage and while their pack is certainly intimidating, the Pumas won’t wilt so easily. Much will depend on how Diaz, Matera, and particularly Sanchez perform. Expect this to be a bit of an arm wrestle for the first half, with the Springboks pulling out a fortunate try or two later on. South Africa by 15.
SOUTH AFRICA
Willie le Roux; Bryan Habana, J.J. Engelbrecht, Jean de Villiers (capt.), Bjorn Basson; Morne Steyn, Ruan Pienaar; Tendai Mtawarira, Adriaan Strauss, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen. RES: Bismarck du Plessis, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Flip van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Fourie du Preez, Patrick Lambie, Jan Serfontein.
ARGENTINA
Juan Martin Hernandez; Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Felipe Contepomi (capt.), Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Matias Diaz; Manuel Carizza, Patricio Albacete; Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Leonardo Senatore. RES: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Mariano Galarza, Julio Farias Cabello, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla.
UNITED STATES vs CANADA
Saturday, August 17, 22:30 GMT, Charleston
Part one of two in the home-and-away clash with the Americas 1 slot on the line should be a real battle in the forwards. Neither side have convincing backlines but there are plenty of damagers up front. The Eagles have colossal Samu Manoa in the boilerhouse and quality pros Scott LaValla and Todd Clever in the back row. Brian Doyle and Cameron Dolan are dynamic reserves, and coach Mike Tolkin has sprung a surprise by including uncapped 18 year old prop Titi Lamositele on the bench.
While the spectre of Manoa looms large, Canada have a couple heavy hitters of their own in the second row as top pros Jebb Sinclair and Jamie Cudmore team up for the first time since the World Cup. New Ospreys signing Tyler Ardron mans the flank, and Glasgow star D.T.H. van der Merwe returns for his first cap in over a year, though curiously he find himself on the wing rather than his preferred centre slot. Nippy halfback Phil Mack is preferred to Sean White, and with Connor Braid out of form and Liam Underwood injured, Capilano utility Harry Jones gets another opportunity at flyhalf.
The Canadians will fancy themselves up front, and rightly so, and have picked a side geared towards direct rugby. Despite the absence of first choice loosehead Hubert Buydens, away playing in the ITM cup with Manawatu, they should have the edge in the scrum, while the tight-loose will be hotly contested. The difference-maker could be metronomic kicker James Pritchard, who rarely lets chances go amiss inside forty metres. This one could go either way but Canada looks to have just enough to win by 6.
UNITED STATES
Chris Wyles; Takudzwa Ngwenya, Seamus Kelly, Andrew Suniula, Blaine Scully; Toby L’Estrange, Mike Petri; Shawn Pittman, Chris Biller, Eric Fry; Louis Stanfill, Samu Manoa; Scott LaValla, Peter Dahl, Todd Clever (capt.). RES: Zach Fenoglio, Titi Lamositele, Phil Thiel, Brian Doyle, Cameron Dolan, Robbie Shaw, Folau Niua, Roland Suniula.
CANADA
James Pritchard; Matt Evans, Ciaran Hearn, Nick Blevins, D.T.H. van der Merwe; Harry Jones, Phil Mack; Andrew Tiedemann, Ryan Hamilton, Jason Marshall; Jebb Sinclair, Jamie Cudmore; Tyler Ardron, John Moonlight, Aaron Carpenter (capt.). RES: Ray Barkwill, Tom Dolezel, Doug Wooldridge, Tyler Hotson, Nanyak Dala, Sean White, Nathan Hirayama, Phil Mackenzie.
