Overview

• Argentina and New Zealand will kick off the Rugby Championship at 18:10 local time today at Córdoba’s Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, hosting the match with a full stadium and live coverage on ESPN and Disney+.
• Head coaches Felipe Contepomi and Scott Robertson named 23-player squads earlier this week, blending veteran returnees with new prospects on both sides.
• French referee Pierre Brousset is appointed to lead the officiating team, with Nic Berry and Morné Ferreira as assistants and Marius van der Westhuizen as TMO.
• Argentina added Leonel Oviedo as a development player after Bautista Bernasconi’s injury, leading to adjustments in the bench composition.
• The opener in Córdoba marks the All Blacks’ first official test on Kempes turf, signifying Argentina’s wider renewal ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.