Rugby Champioship round 4: preview and predictions

New Zealand v South Africa
Liam Messam, Sam Whitelock and Andrew Hore have all been drafted back into the All Blacks‘ starting XV for the reception of South Africa in Dunedin tomorrow.
They replace Victor Vito, Broddie Retallick and Kevin Mealamu who all drop to the bench while Piri Weepu comes in for Aaron Smith at scrum-half.
It’s not often that the South Africa pack looks so vulnerable and it will be a golden opportunity for the All Blacks to punish the Springboks in an aspect of the game they are usually so good at.
In the only change in the matchday 22, utility back Timati Ellison comes on the bench for Ben Smith who impressed in the first three rounds.
Meanwhile, Bath‘s Francois Louw will start at openside for the Springboks replacing Marcell Coetzee in an attempt to compete with the World Champions in the breakdown.
Lock Flip van der Merwe replaces the suspended Eben Etzebeth in the only other change in the starting XV.
Despite consistent poor performances, fly-half Morne Steyn retains his place with youngsters Pat Lambie and Johan Goosen on the bench.
There are three other changes on the bench, where Coetzee joins Dean Greyling, Andries Bekker and Juan de Jongh.
Head-coach Heyneke Meyer said: “The New Zealanders are good on the ground which is why we decided to go for a specialist openside flank in Francois.
“Marcell has been very good this season and has played a lot of rugby, but in this match we feel he will be more useful as an impact option.”
New Zealand: Dagg; Jane, C. Smith, Nonu, Savea; Cruden, Weepu; Woodcock, Hore, Franks; Romano, Whitelock; Messam, McCaw (capt.), Read.
Replacements: Mealamu, Faumuina, Retallick, Vito, A. Smith, Barrett, Ellison.
South Africa: Kirchner; Habana, de Villiers (capt.), F. Steyn, Hougaard; M. Steyn, Pienaar; Mtawarira, Strauss, du Plessis; van der Merwe, Kruger; Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Liebenberg, Greyling, Bekker, Coetzee, Goosen, de Jongh, Lambie.
Prediction: Heyneke Meyer will feel the heat after this one. The Springboks are in a dark place right now and a thumping tomorrow won’t help. Big changes needed and quick.
Australia v Argentina
Brumbies‘ Pat McCabe has been brought back straight into the starting XV at inside centre despite just recovering from a stress fracture in his foot.
The 24-year-old centre returns to the international stage on the back of just half an hour of club rugby for Wests in Canberra’s first grade grand final at the weekend.
His return means that out-of-form Kurtley Beale has been relegated to the bench, with Berrick Barnes shifting from inside centre to full-back to accommodate him.
Veteran lock Nathan Sharpe has been handed the Wallabies captaincy after Will Genia ruptured his ACL last week against Argentina.
Genia is replaced by Melbourne Rebels’ Nick Phipps while Brett Sheehan comes on the bench.
Meanwhile, the Pumas will use the same forward pack that strongly tested New Zealand before going down 21-5 but make changes at the key scrum-half and full-back positions.
Martin Landajo has been named at No.9 ahead of Nicolas Vergallo with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino replacing Martin Rodriguez at full-back.
Lock Patricio Albacete has been named to play his 50th Test while Horacio Agulla and Gonzalo Camacho remain on the wings.
Argentina are yet to win in their inaugural campaign but they haven’t fail to impress and prop Marcos Ayerza reckons Will Genia’s absence is a blessing for them.
Argentina have made no secret that they see Phipps as Australia’s weak link and that their chances of an upset victory have been boosted by Genia’s long-term absence.
Ayerza said: “Massively. I think he’s been a talisman for them.
“He’s a very important player for them.
“To lose a key player like a number nine or 10 … and a captain … is a massive loss for Australia and hopefully we can use that to our advantage.”
Australia: Barnes; Shipperley, Ashley-Cooper, McCabe, Ioane; Cooper, Phipps; Robinson, Polota-Nau, Alexander; Douglas, Sharpe (capt.); Dennis, Hooper, Samo.
Replacements: Moore/S. Fainga’a, Slipper, Higginbotham, Gill, Sheehan, A. Fainga’a, Beale.
Argentina: Amorosino; Camacho, Bosch, Fernandez, Agulla; Hernandez, Landajo; Roncero, Guinazu, Figallo; Carizza, Albacete; Cabello, Leguizamón, Fernandez Lobbe (capt.).
Replacements: Creevy, Orlandi, Senatore, Leonardi, Vergallo, Rodriguez, Imhoff
Prediction: Rodrigo Roncero and the Pumas pack will be on a mission, put Nick Phipss off his game. Australia will struggle to go forward and I reckon we will see the biggest upset in Argentina history.