Overview

• Coach Felipe Contepomi’s starting XV features unexpected inclusions of Bautista Delguy, Franco Molina and Pedro Delgado, with Julián Montoya as captain and Juan Martín González named among the reserves.
• A day before kick-off, prop Bautista Bernasconi withdrew injured and returned to Buenos Aires, leading to Leonel Oviedo’s addition as a development player and Boris Wenger’s elevation to convocable status.
• New Zealand coach Scott Robertson confirmed his All Blacks lineup, entrusting Beauden Barrett at fly-half, Ardie Savea in the back row and Scott Barrett to captain the pack.
• Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes is set to welcome around 57,000 spectators and will air live on ESPN and Disney+ to audiences across South America and beyond.
• The match kicks off the Rugby Championship and will test Argentina’s World Cup preparations while providing a significant economic boost to Córdoba’s hospitality sector.