New Zealand v Argentina: 5 Key Battles That Will Shape Rugby Championship Clash

Napier plays host to Argentina on Saturday as the Pumas' quest for a first Rugby Championship win goes on.

Daniel Hourcade's team features five changes to the line-up that came so agonisingly close to turning the Springboks over in Salta.

Changes, too, for the All Blacks, who have lost Aaron Cruden to injury and see further shuffling in the back line.

After such an impressive display against Australia, the smart money is on the home side to win handsomely against the South Americans, but this generation of Pumas looks to be the real deal as they build toward the 2015 World Cup.

It will be an acid test of how far they have come, and these are the key battles that will shape the outcome.

1. Kieran Read vs. Juan Manuel Leguizamon

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Here we have two No. 8s who love to get their hands on the ball and make things happen.

Read was somewhere near his best in the demolition of Australia and can do things most other back-row forwards cannot.

Leguizamon’s all-action style ensures he has an impact on every game, and he will need to impose himself in Napier if Argentina are to make the most of the decent field positions they get themselves into this weekend.

Both men will look for opportunities out wide where they can act as the extra man and take advantage of stretched defences, but the other crucial area will be the breakdown. Read was a pest against Australia here and his intervention at one ruck ended with a classic turnover try for New Zealand.

It's up to Leguizamon to match the reigning IRB Player of the Year.

2. The Scrum

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Argentina underlined their love for a strong scrummage as they took South Africa apart in the last game.

But New Zealand also flexed their muscles in this department with a penalty try wrangled from a huge shove against the Wallabies.

This clash represents a meeting between the two form packs of the competition and whoever gains the upper hand here will enjoy a foothold in the contest.

Owen Franks can expect a much tougher time against Marcos Ayerza than he had against Australia, and the visitors will know they at least need parity here to make this game a tight one.

3. Beauden Barrett vs. Nicolas Sanchez

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Aaron Cruden sits this one out which presents Beauden Barrett with a chance to show his wares in the All Black No. 10 shirt.

He faces a confident Nicolas Sanchez who performed well in Salta against South Africa and showed a willingness to put width on the game.

The Pumas scored three tries against the Boks, and they must persevere with the same sense of adventure without sacrificing their focus on the basics.

And they may need to, for what Sanchez possesses in attacking intent, he is lacking in accuracy with his goal-kicking. With wet weather forecast in Napier, this is an area that will seriously undermine the Pumas' effort if Sanchez is wayward from the tee.

4. Israel Dagg vs. Joaquin Tuculet

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Israel Dagg regains the No. 15 shirt for the All Blacks as Ben Smith shifts to the wing.

Joaquin Tuculet will be looking to pick up where he left off from a fine performance at full-back for the Pumas against South Africa.

Dagg has all the attributes to run riot against Argentina, but Tuculet is sound defensively and also adds an edge to the South American attack.

This is a head-to-head of two talented players with something to prove at this level and should be an entertaining matchup.

5. Brodie Retallick vs. Mariano Galarza

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Brodie Retallick was the player of the round in week two of the tournament.

The lock was absolutely everywhere against Australia. He tackled, ran, passed, turned ball over and came mighty close to a try in one of the best displays by a Test second row we have seen for many a year.

He faces a similarly effective second row brute in Mariano Galaraza this weekend.

The Gloucester man is fast becoming the lynchpin of the pack in the place of Patricio Albacete, and he will need a top drawer performance this weekend to counter the force of nature that is Retallick.

It should be a great clash.