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Deputy Editor, espn.com.au- Sam was brought up on long drives and the dusty fields of north-west New South Wales, where he developed his love of rugby from an early age. He joined ESPN after a five-year stint heading up Fox Sports Australia's digital rugby coverage.
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Special to ESPN- John Goliath is a long-suffering Tottenham Hotspur fan, who likes to watch running rugby on sunny days at Newlands. He also wishes he could hit low stingers off the tee like Tiger Woods.
Round 2 of the Rugby Championship kicks off in Auckland with Eden Park playing host to Bledisloe II. The tournament then heads to South America where Argentina host South Africa in Mendoza.
Read on for a complete preview of the weekend's games.
New Zealand vs. Australia, Eden Park, Auckland, 5.35pm (AEST) Saturday
They may not have hit the ground running quite like the previous two years in Sydney, but a ruthless second-half in attack ensured they left Sydney with similarly-commanding Bledisloe I result. Coach Steve Hansen described the first 40 minutes of Bledisloe I as "two big bulls in the ring headbutting each other". If that was the indeed the case, then the second half onslaught had the look of one bull backing the other into a corner, running over the top of it, jumping the fence and rumbling off into pastures anew. And they don't come any greener that those found at Auckland's Eden Park where the All Blacks haven't lost to the Wallabies since 1986; their average winning margin at the venue in this decade alone standing at 20.5 points. After such a commanding win in Sydney, where they obliterated the Wallabies' set-piece and stung brilliantly on the counter, the world champions are back at home and brimming with confidence, despite being forced into a backline reshuffle.
It has been a brutal week for Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. Having watched his side capitulate under the throng of a five-try All Blacks onslaught, Cheika awoke on Monday morning to find ESPN's own Greg Growden declaring the time for a Wallabies coaching cleanout had arrived. Described as a knee-jerk reaction in some quarters, a 75 percent majority in an accompanying ESPN user poll suggested it was not. The Wallabies have rallied around their coach this week, Tatafu Polota-Nau among those to back his boss, but the only way they can truly guarantee his future is by delivering an 80-minute performance Australian rugby fans can be proud of. At the top of the list is a complete reversal of their set-piece woes from ANZ Stadium, and a reduction in a disgraceful missed tackle [41] count. The Wallabies look to have points in them, providing they hold onto the ball; but you'll never be in the contest with a dysfunctional set-piece and leaky defensive line.
How the All Blacks win it
It's a case of more of the same for New Zealand, given they emerged from the Wallabies' first-half attacking surge - between the 15-25 minute mark - in Sydney with their line intact and later finished with just 13 missed tackles. Superstar lock Brodie Retallick, meanwhile, has acknowledged the fact his forward pack may need to tweak the lineout approach that was so successful last week, recognising the possibility the Wallabies will do the same. But there's no question that as long as the Wallabies play Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the same line-up, Australia's lineout will be a clear area of opposition focus. In the backline, the front-foot ball Ngani Laumape will be able to provide by running at the defensively suspect Bernard Foley and Kurtley Beale will free up centre partner Jack Goodhue - who was outstanding in Sydney - and the reshuffled back three of Waisake Naholo, Ben Smith and Jordie Barrett.
How the Wallabies win it
Amid the disaster that was the second half in Sydney, there was actually one positive the Wallabies could take from their 25-point defeat: that they made 17 clean breaks. That would suggest Australia's attack had its moments and in reviewing the match video, had they not pushed a couple of 50/50 passes, it's possible the Wallabies may have scored a couple of extra tries. It's likely that would have made no difference to the final result, but at least given them the confidence to back their execution in Auckland. Those opportunities did however come on the counter, as did their sole try in Sydney, which is a direct result of their inability to strike when they enjoyed a considerable run of possession midway through the first half and the fact their set-piece was utterly shambolic. Anything other than a 85 percent plus success rate at scrum and lineout will never be enough to beat the All Blacks; while the missed tackle count must be under 20. Guess how many the Wallabies missed in their 23-18 victory in Brisbane last year? Nine.
Line-ups
Jordie Barrett, Ben Smith, Jack Goodhue, Ryan Crotty, Waisake Naholo, Beauden Barrett, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read (capt), Sam Cane, Liam Squire, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody. Res: Nathan Harris, Karl Tu'inukuafe, Ofa Tuungafasi, Scott Barrett, Ardie Savea, TJ Perenara, Damian McKenzie, Anton Lienert-Brown.
Dane Haylett-Petty, Jack Maddocks, Reece Hodge, Kurtley Beale, Marika Koroibete, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper (capt), Lukhan Tui, Adam Coleman, Izack Rodda, Allan Alaalatoa, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio. Reserves: Folau Faingaa, Tom Robertson, Sekope Kepu, Rob Simmons, Pete Samu, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Tom Banks.
Positional battle to watch
Brodie Retallick vs. Izack Rodda
The rugby world is fast running out of superlatives for Brodie Retallick. The veteran All Blacks lock is already among the game's all-time great second-rowers having combined set-piece authority, turnover ability and the kind of silky skills that saw him sell Bernard Foley and sprint 30 metres untouched for a try in Sydney. If Retallick enjoys another disruptive night against the Wallabies lineout then Australian fans should expect another heavy defeat. This is a man at the very top of his game.
While Rodda is by no means solely to blame for the Wallabies' lineout woes in Sydney, he needs to make himself the absolute best possible target and fight for every ball that comes his way. On one particular occasion following a lost lineout in Sydney, Rodda went through to pressure Aaron Smith but his arm-grab was a poor excuse for a tackle on the diminutive No.9. He also made just three runs for three metres. No one expects Rodda to play like Retallick, but winning his share of the lineout ball and working hard in defence are non-negotiable. The entire Wallabies forward pack must follow the lead of David Pocock, who was superb in a badly beaten outfit in Sydney.
Sam Bruce says: Wallabies fans should take hope from the fact their side rediscovered its backbone following a heavy defeat in Sydney last year, only to be denied in the 78th minute in Dunedin a week later. But this is Eden Park and New Zealand love nothing more than beating up on Australia at their spiritual home. Expect a Wallabies' response but it won't be anywhere near enough to end a 32-year drought in Auckland. All Blacks by 21.
Argentina vs. South Africa, Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, 5.10am (AEST) Sunday
Durban is undoubtedly South Africa's curry mecca; you can find some of the best spicy dishes in the KwaZulu-Natal capital because of its rich Indian influence. But last Saturday's Rugby Championship opener between the Springboks and Argentina at Kings Park was anything but spicy. The bland atmosphere -- just under 27 000 people attended the Test in the 49 000-capacity stadium -- set the tone for an error-strewn affair that barely rated as an appetiser as a contest. In the end the Springboks won the match because of their superior pack of forwards, who basically had their Argentine counterparts for an early dinner.
The Boks brought the heat of a traditional Durban lamb curry and the Pumas just couldn't stomach it. However, Argentina's appetite when playing at home is much bigger. Their preferred main course of steak and Malbec -- brute force and magic out wide -- has in the past been too much to handle for even the meatiest of Springboks teams. In 2016 they managed their first win over the Springboks on home soil, while they also managed a draw during Heyneke Meyer's era. This clash will certainly have a bit more bite than what was served up in Durban.
How the Pumas win it
The Pumas' line-speed on defence really disrupted the Springboks' rhythm on attack. Every time the Boks tried to play the ball wide they were hurried and ended up making a few loose passes and a plethora of mistakes. But Argentina couldn't cope when the South Africans went direct and when big ball carriers such as Siya Kolisi, Malcolm Marx and Eben Etzebeth had a dart at the advantage line. The home side have to stop the Springboks' momentum on attack, while they also have to scrum a lot better than what they did in Durban. When the Springboks pack is in reverse, forced passes, poor timing and, ultimately, mistakes follow.
How Springboks win it
South Africa couldn't take advantage of their dominant scrum and their mini victories in the collisions because of botched lineouts and some poor play by the backs in the first half. It again took some individual brilliance to seal the deal and start Rassie Erasmus' Rugby Championship tenure on a high note. But the Boks will need to be a lot sharper in those departments if they're to see off an Argentine side that will be a different beast in their home conditions. The Boks will also need to kick their goals, after Handré Pollard missed five out of seven attempts from the kicking tee at Kings Park.
Lineups
Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Bautista Ezcurra, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Juan Figallo, Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Reserves: Facundo Bosch, Santiago Garcia Botta, Santiago Medrano, Matías Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Tomas Cubelli, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Juan Cruz Mallia.
Willie le Roux, Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphiwe Dyantyi, Handre Pollard, Faf de Klerk, Warren Whiteley, Siya Kolisi, Francois Louw, Franco Mostert, Eben Etzebeth, Frans Malherbe, Malcolm Marx, Tendai Mtawarira. Reserves: Bongi Mbonambi, Steven Kitshoff, Wilco Louw, RG Snyman, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Embrose Papier, Lionel Mapoe, Damian Willemse.
Positional battle to watch
Emiliano Boffelli vs Willie le Roux
There will be a lot of kicking on Saturday and the fullbacks' aerial skills will be tested. However, both players are more known for their attacking prowess, and they will certainly not hesitate to run back wayward punts downfield.
Le Roux is one of the most experience members in a rather green Bok backline. His return to the Springbok team in the June series against England was a masterstroke by coach Rassie Erasmus, as he attacked with gusto and brought a sense of calm to the Boks' back division.
Boffelli, who has played most of his Test rugby on the wing, is a dangerous runner with ball in hand. He always finds himself at the right place at the right time and is a supreme finisher. He is also a big boy, and gets over the advantage line more often than not. Argentina will be looking to bring him into the line to Test South Africa's centres.
John Goliath says: Argentina will be a lot more competitive up front, but the Springboks will be even better prepared this weekend. The visitors' lineout will function and they will maul the Pumas into the ground. Boks by 12.