New Zealand and Argentina turned on a classic Rugby Championship encounter and rightfully dominate our selections for the Round 3 Rugby Championship Team of the Week.
Did any Springboks or Wallabies make the grade? Read on to find out!
Emiliano Boffelli
It took some time for Boffelli to work his way into the match, but he eventually found his feet to attack the All Blacks' defensive line. In what was a tight call with New Zealand opposite Ben Smith, Boffelli just gets the nod on the back of the brilliant run to the tryline in the 70th minute.
Nehe Milner-Skudder
Given his shocking run with injury since Rugby World Cup 2015, it's marvellous to see Milner-Skudder out on the paddock in the first place. He may not be in the All Blacks' first choice back-three, but he still showed his class with a try and eight runs for 48 metres.
Jack Goodhue
The Crusaders centre continues to deliver at Test level, earning selection in our Team of the Week for the third straight round. Goodhue again powered through the midfield, adjusting to an early injury inside him for the second time during the tournament. He signed off in Nelson with 10 runs for 56 metres with three clean breaks, a try and a further try-assist.
Matt Toomua
Making his first start of the tournament, a week after flying over and back to Leicester for the Tigers' season opener, Toomua repaid the faith of Wallabies coach Michael Cheika. While the combination with Kurtley Beale didn't quite click, Toomua certainly proved a steadying influence at inside centre. As well as a perfect eight from eight tackles, Toomua swooped on an overthrown lineout for a crucial try and kicked a further two penalties and two conversions.
Ramiro Moyano
In the standout performance of the week, Moyano cut the All Blacks to pieces in a brilliant display of attacking rugby. The Pumas winger had several New Zealanders in knots on his run to the tryline in the 15th minute and added a further two clean breaks and six tackle busts across a game-high 106 metres. Given similar time and space on the Gold Coast, he has the ability to cause the Wallabies all sorts of headaches on Saturday.
Nicolas Sanchez
The Pumas No.10 picked up in Nelson where he'd left off in Mendoza, producing another classy display to help push the All Blacks right through until the final five minutes. Showing far more poise compared to previous Rugby Championship campaigns, Sanchez scored a try by catching a tired Owen Franks in the front line and helped put Boffelli over late in the second half.
TJ Perenara
Earning a rare start with Aaron Smith resting, Perenara certainly capitalised on his first run-on Test appearance this year. The Hurricanes No.9 did exactly what we've come to expect from his Super Rugby form in sniping for opportunities around the ruck, being a constant threat in support and chasing back in cover defence. Perenara grabbed a try in each half and saved his side five points with a desperate attempt on Bautista Delguy, albeit with questionable use of his right leg.
Javier Ortega Desio
A workmanlike effort from the Pumas No.8 who was shaded only by the superb Shannon Frizell in terms of run metres from the forward packs in Nelson. Ortega Desio notched 43 metres on 14 runs and chipped in defensively with seven tackles. Just gets the better of Kieran Read, who grabbed an important try for the All Blacks nine minutes after the resumption.
Ardie Savea
Another player who enjoyed a rare run-on start, Savea was dominant figure in the All Blacks forward pack. One of the toughest men to tackle given he never stops pumping his legs, Savea notched an impressive 13 runs for 43 metres and also racked up a couple of key breakdown turnovers. The Hurricanes openside was even more dominant in defence, registering a round-high 21 tackles.
Shannon Frizell
He didn't even have a Super Rugby contract this time last year, but Frizell is now on the international rugby radar following a stellar run-on debut on Saturday. With Liam Squire given a rest, Frizell asserted himself on the contest from the outset as he carried with authority in midfield and combined that with neat short passes that have become a hallmark of the All Blacks' forwards unit. The Highlanders back-rower powered into the Pumas all game, finishing with 15 runs for 63 metres, three clean breaks, five tackle busts and a try. The standout player of the week.
Tomas Lavinini
In what far from a glorious week for the locking contingent, Lavanini was heavily involved in the tight contests. The Pumas lock made 16 runs, albeit for a lowly 17 metres, but added a credible 12 tackles.
Sam Whitelock
Brought on as a replacement for Brodie Retallick who has since been ruled out for six weeks with a shoulder injury, Whitelock came on and did what Sam Whitelock does: go to work. The Crusaders skipper finished with 15 tackles in a typically committed showing.
Owen Franks
The All Blacks' video session will have had one ugly moment for Franks but aside from the missed tackle that allowed Sanchez to score, Franks had an otherwise strong evening. He again applied pressure at scrum time, helping to shunt the Pumas forwards back and earn penalties.
Codie Taylor
While Pumas skipper Agustin Creevy had his usual strong game against the All Blacks, Codie Taylor was easily the superior rake from their duel in Nelson. While some lost lineouts will be a concern, Taylor was outstanding in the loose; his long pass for Milner-Skudder to score the kind of play you'd expect from a fly-half not a hooker. He also made seven runs for 41 metres, with two clean breaks and 11 tackles in defence.
Karl Tuinukuafe
Just like Frizell, Tuinukuake is another player right at the start of his Test journey. But he too looks right at home, and even found some rare open space on a galloping run midway through the first half. But it was at scrum time where he was most effective, as he gave Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro all kinds of headaches in drawing four penalties from the Pumas tighthead.