New Zealand vs Argentina: Preview, Live Stream, TV Info for Rugby World Cup Game
A wealth of expectation rests with reigning champions New Zealand to start their 2015 Rugby World Cup campaign with a bang, but they face stiff competition on Sunday as Argentina bring the best South America has to offer.
It's likely to be New Zealand's toughest pool encounter, and coach Steve Hansen is leaving nothing to chance, it seems, after naming his most experienced starting XV ever, boasting a collective 1,013 Test caps.
Daniel Hourcade's side are under considerably less pressure and are sure to throw everything but the kitchen sink at the world's No. 1-ranked team in an effort to upset the Pool C balance.
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The Pumas have never beaten the All Blacks in 21 attempts, coming closest 30 years ago when they managed to steal a 21-21 draw from their southern-hemisphere foes in just their second meeting.
The All Blacks beat Argentina 39-18 as recently as July in their Rugby Championship opener, and there's a chance some cobwebs may well be visible for both outfits as they get their World Cup campaign under way.
Date: Sunday, September 20
Time: 4:45 p.m. BST/11:45 a.m. ET/(Monday, Sept. 21)1:45 a.m. AEST/3:45 a.m. NZST
Venue: Wembley Stadium, London
Live Stream: ITV Player (UK), Universal Sports (U.S.), Fox Sports (AUS), Sky Go (NZ), SuperSport (SA)
TV Info: ITV (UK), Fox Sports 2 (AUS), Sky Sport 1 (NZ), SuperSport 1 (SA)
| August 15, 2015 | New Zealand 41-13 Australia |
| August 8, 2015 | Australia 27-19 New Zealand |
| July 25, 2015 | South Africa 20-27 New Zealand |
| July 17, 2015 | New Zealand 39-18 Argentina |
| July 8, 2015 | Samoa 16-25 New Zealand |
| August 15, 2015 | Argentina 12-26 South Africa |
| August 8, 2015 | South Africa 25-37 Argentina |
| July 25, 2015 | Argentina 9-34 Australia |
| July 17, 2015 | New Zealand 39-18 Argentina |
| May 23, 2015 | Paraguay 7-71 Argentina |
Team Lineups
New Zealand: 15. Ben Smith, 14. Nehe Milner-Skudder, 13. Conrad Smith, 12. Ma'a Nonu, 11. Julian Savea, 10. Dan Carter, 9. Aaron Smith, 8. Kieran Read, 7. Richie McCaw (C), 6. Jerome Kaino, 5. Sam Whitelock, 4. Brodie Retallick, 3. Owen Franks, 2. Dane Coles, 1. Tony Woodcock
Argentina: 15. Joaquin Tuculet, 14. Santiago Cordero, 13. Marcelo Bosch, 12. Juan Martin Hernandez, 11. Juan Imhoff, 10. Nicolas Sanchez, 9. Tomas Cubelli, 8. Leonardo Senatore, 7. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6. Pablo Matera, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Guido Petti, 3. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2. Agustin Creevy (C), 1. Marcos Ayerza
Players to Watch
Kieran Read
It feels as though the world-class abilities of Kieran Read have gone somewhat under the radar since claiming the 2013 IRB Player of the Year award, but that's only due to the massive reputation he's developed.
The Crusaders star is frequently debated as being the best No. 8 in world rugby, and rugby journalist Charlie Morgan teased the idea of his link-up with Ben Smith and Nehe Milner-Skudder during the Rugby Championship:
That trio all start at Wembley Stadium this Sunday, and Read, as ever, will be one of the figures courting inevitable attention. Unfortunately for the Pumas, the back-row superstar says New Zealand are ready to hit their peak, too, per Toby Robson of Stuff.co.nz:
"We are fresh. As a group a lot of us are itching to get back on the park. It's been a good month really between games. Our bodies are in really good nick. We've worked hard together as a group and now we want to put it out on the field."
The reference made earlier to Read's talent going "under-the-radar" of late is no slight on him, of course. The fact is we've come to expect so much of the player, it's hardly surprising anymore to see him achieve the sublime.
It may be normal by his standards, but England—and Argentina in particular—will bear witness to his awesome standards this Sunday, where he's sure to sit among the key players influencing the result.
| New Zealand win | 1-25 |
| Draw | 40-1 |
| Argentina Win | 10-1 |
| New Zealand -21 Points | Evens |
Santiago Cordero
From one of the most established figures attending this year's tournament to a potential talisman making his World Cup debut, Santiago Cordero is already making waves as a name worth keeping tabs on.
Murray Kinsella of The42.ie highlighted the Argentina winger as a superb asset to Hourcade's back line during the Rugby Championship, when the 21-year-old furthered his reputation as a dazzling starlet:
Kinsella is correct to assert Cordero's blurring footwork as a valuable commodity, and he stands out as a flash-in-the-pan talent who has that knack to create something out of nothing.
Argentina will need that in surplus, too, as they look to combat an All Blacks team motivated to enact a controlled display in the first fixture of their Rugby World Cup defence.
Cordero will also be looked upon as a potential weak spot for the Pumas, however, considering he lines up opposite Julian "The Bus" Savea, who edges the 80-kilogram Argentinian by a large margin in the weight department.
The South American has rarely shown himself to be lacking in terms of guts and guile, but one of the most threatening wingers in the world is sure to make Cordero's first World Cup experience a difficult one.
Prediction: New Zealand to win by 15
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