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Argentina have made very little progress since joining The Rugby Championship, and the result this weekend against the All Blacks couldn’t be easier to pick. A brief glance at the stats will leave you in no doubt as to how this one will play out. The Pumas will lose, and lose handsomely.
- The All Blacks are undefeated in 24 previous encounters with the Pumas and have won 22 on the bounce since a 21-all draw in Buenos Aires in 1985.
- This will be the All Blacks 14th time hosting Argentina, with their last 13 such clashes ending in 13 wins by an average margin of 36 points.
- Argentina earned three wins in New Zealand at the 2011 World Cup, beating Georgia, Scotland and Romania there.
- This will be the first Test played at Yarrow Stadium since New Zealand defeated France there 24-9 in June 2013; the All Blacks average 64 points scored per game from their three previous appearances at the venue.
- Los Pumas have lost their last four games away from home, the last time they lost more on the road was a five-game drought in 2013.
- Argentina have been outscored 180-142 from five games in 2017 thus far, the only other time since 2000 that they have ended a calendar year with a negative points differential was in 2013 (-58).
- The All Blacks have gained an average of 595m per game this tournament, more than 100m more than any other team in the competition.
Argentina are the only team this tournament to have lost more than one lineout on their own throw (lost 3). - Rieko Ioane leads the tournament in tries (3), clean breaks (8), and defenders beaten (13) thus far, while only Israel Folau (255m) has gained more metres than the All Blacks flyer (254m).
- Pablo Matera has made 20 tackles this tournament, the fourth most of any player and more than any other who is yet to miss an attempt.
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