Wallabies team named, Pumas team to follow…

The Wallabies travel to Estadio Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario, Argentina to take on the Pumas in the final match of the 2012 Rugby Championship. The All Blacks wrapped up the tournament last weekend, but there is still plenty to play for. Argentina are desperate for a maiden Rugby Championship victory, having come close twice so far, with a four point loss to the Wallabies and a draw with the Springboks. Australia will be equally desperate. They need a victory to keep the wolves in Australia at bay. The team and coach Robbie …

Dan Carter is back and the reserves bench gets a shuffle for the All Blacks unenviable task of taking on the Argentine Los Pumas at home in La Plata.

Carter has been ruled out the last two matches, against Argentina and South Africa, with a calf strain. If he passes a fitness test and takes the field it will mean a 90th test cap for the world record points scorer.

Despite some conjecture he may be overtaken by Beauden Barrett, Aaron Cruden keeps his replacement spot, moving to the bench to make way for Carter. Halfbacks Aaron Smith and Piri …

The All Blacks’ inability to trounce the Pumas in Wellington has given me cause to look at the expectations I personally, and indeed the New Zealand rugby public in general, put on our World Champion team. The media has widely criticized the performances of the All Blacks against Los Pumas, but the fact remains that they are, after just three rounds, streaks ahead on the Rugby Championship ladder, and have won three from three.

My first reaction following last Saturday night’s clash was that the All Blacks had been below par, and let’s be honest, they weren’t mind-blowingly good. But …

The All Black front row comes together for the first of the new Rugby Championship matches this week when they meet Australia in Sydney on the 18th. The only changes from the Irish test series are the inclusion of Aucklander Charlie Faumuina, at the expense of Chiefs giant Ben Tamiafuna who was called in during the mid-season internationals when Faumuina was injured.

More than likely Steve Hansen will go with the old tried and true firm of Franks, Franks, and Woodcock (no, not a Law Firm), with Hore and Mealamu hooking. But the depth at prop in New Zealand at …

New Zealand go into their impending World Cup quarter finals against Argentina on Saturday following a mixed bag of news from their medical staff this week. Massive relief will be felt throughout the country now that captain Richie McCaw has declared himself fit for the clash against Santiago Phelen’s side, but that news was soured slightly when it was revealed star winger Zac Guildford will not win his race to overcome the hamstring strain he suffered in training on Wednesday.

The blow couldn’t have come at a worse time for either the player on an individual level following his personal …