Rugby Championship round 6: preview

South Africa v New Zealand
South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer believes his side can do the impossible and pip New Zealand to the Rugby Championship crown.
The All Blacks travel to Johannesburg on Saturday on the brink of defending their title, having won all five of their matches – including a 29-15 win over the Springboks at Eden Park three weeks ago.
The Boks need to secure a try bonus-point win and hope the All Blacks don’t pick up a bonus point if they are to finish the competition on top.
But Meyer insists his side will not play it safe as they look to upset the odds at Ellis Park.
Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira will be playing his 50th Test for the Springboks in a team that shows two changes in the pack.
Hooker Bismarck du Plessis returns to the starting line up as Adriaan Strauss drops to the bench while Juandre Kruger comes in at lock for Flip van der Merwe who is suspended.
In the back line, JJ Engelbrecht will have to pass fitness test to keep his place at outside centre. If he does not, he will be replaced by Jan Serfontein with Juan de Jongh coming on the bench.
He said: “I really want the team to go and score four tries. By saying that it is a huge, huge challenge because the more rugby you play, the All Blacks play off your mistakes.
“I believe you can’t be in two minds. You are either going to go for the four tries or play it safe and try and win the game.
“No one will probably give us a chance but it is just great to go positive into this game and try to do what’s impossible.”
Meanwhile, Richie McCaw will earn his 120^th Test cap after recovering from a knee injury in of two changes to the team that beat Argentina in La Plata last Saturday.
Owen Franks is sidelined with a groin injury so Charlie Faumuina starts at tighthead with Ben Franks coming onto the bench.
As a result of McCaw’s return, Sam Cane drops to the bench where he will be joined by Dane Coles who takes over from Keven Mealamu.
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: “We know the South Africans will come at us with their physical game but to win the Championship they will have to do that by scoring four tries so we are expecting more ball movement than we have seen in the past.
“So the answer is pretty simple for us – we will have to match their physicality and be very accurate with our execution across the park, both on attack and defensively.”
South Africa: Zane Kirchner; Willie le Roux, JJ Engelbrecht / Jan Serfontein, Jean de Villiers (Capt.), Bryan Habana; Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez; Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis; Eben Etzebeth, Juandre Kruger; Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Duane Vermeulen.
Replacements: Adriaan Strauss, Gurthro Steenkamp, Coenie Oosthuizen, Franco van der Merwe, Siya Kolisi, Ruan Pienaar, Pat Lambie, Jan Serfontein / Juan de Jongh.
New Zealand: Israel Dagg; Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea; Aaron Cruden, Aaron Smith; Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Charlie Faumuina; Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock; Liam Messam, Richie McCaw (Capt.), Kieran Read.
Replacements: Dane Coles, Wyatt Crockett, Ben Franks, Steven Luatua, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau.
Argentina v Australia
Santiago Phelan has recalled veteran centre Felipe Contepomi for their clash against Australia on Saturday in Rosario.
Contepomi replaces Santiago Fernandez while Bath’s Horacio Agulla gets the nod on the wing instead of Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Since their inclusion in the Rugby Championship last year, the Pumas are yet to record a win in 11 games but this weekend could see them secure their historic maiden success against a struggling Wallabies outfit.
Australia won the first encounter three weeks ago by the skin of their teeth with a 14-13 win in Perth.
Phelan said: “As always, we think we have our best 15 to start the game. Felipe and Horacio are two great players who bring a lot to the team. The team has been playing well and these two experienced players are important.”
Meanwhile, Will Genia makes his return at scrum-half for Australia after starting the last two Tests on the bench.
As a result Nic White drops to the bench alongside Waratahs playmaker Bernard Foley, who could make his Test debut should he come on.
Like his second-half cameo against South Africa last week, Genia will inject some pace in the Wallabies attack to the delight of full-back Israel Folau.
He said: “I was definitely not getting enough ball, but in the first half last week we had no possession at all.
“In the second half, we decided to run a lot more and got a little bit of ball … but I’d still like to get myself involved a lot more.”
Argentina: Juan Martin Hernandez; Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Figallo; Julio Farias Cabello, Patricio Albacete; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Capt.), Pablo Matera, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
Replacements: Agustín Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Manuel Carizza, Benjamín Macome, Tomás Cubelli, Santiago Fernández, Lucas González Amorosino.
Australia: Israel Folau; Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Christian Lealiifano, Joe Tomane; Quade Cooper, Will Genia; James Slipper, Stephen Moore, Ben Alexander; Rob Simmons, James Horwill (Capt.); Scott Fardy, Michael Hooper, Ben Mowen.
Replacements: Saia Faingaa, Benn Robinson, Sekope Kepu, Sitaleki Timani, Ben McCalman, Nic White Matt Toomua, Bernard Foley.