Sam Warburton v Pablo Matera
He’s back – the youngest-ever captain of the British and Irish Lions and Wales’ record holder for Test caps as skipper returns to the back row.
Warburton brings supreme athleticism to the breakdown, as well as deft handling skills and strong tackling. In combination with the speedy Justin Tipuric, Wales will effectively have two openside flankers on the pitch, both expert ‘jackals’ and support players.
Up against Warburton, though, is perhaps the outstanding Pumas rugby talent. Still only 23 years old, Pablo Matera has made the number six jersey his own, winning 31 caps since his debut against Chile in 2013.
Matera is a ball carrier of excellence, regularly making more metres than any other Pumas forward and some backs in this year’s Rugby Championship. He embodies the hard-running, offloading game for which Argentina are becoming renowned for.
It will take all of Warburton’s brilliance to keep Matera in check. This could be the battle of the weekend.
Gethin Jenkins v Ramiro Herrera
The evergreen Blues prop will become the most-capped front-row forward in Test history when he leads his country out for the second successive week at Principality Stadium.
He will win his 128th cap for Wales which, when added to his five for the British and Irish Lions, takes him beyond New Zealand hooker Keven Mealamu, a remarkable achievement – and he’s showing no signs of slowing down.Â
The 35-year-old has played in three of the last four Tests against the Pumas, including the most recent. The 40-6 win in 2013 was Wales’ best-ever performance against the South Americans.
Jenkins is renowned as much for his levels of fitness and industrious work in the loose as he is for his scrummaging, always a key area against the Pumas. He has four Test tries to his name but none have come against Los Pumas – will number five come on Saturday?
His opponent on Saturday is an old school tight-head prop – another product off Argentina’s bruising front-row forwards conveyor belt.
And out-and-out scrummager, less dynamic in the loose than Jenkins but brutally effective in the set-piece, Herrera has given most loose-heads a thorough work out during his 29 international appearances since 2014.
Although he has yet to score a try for his country or Super Rugby franchise, Los Jaguares, Herrera’s priorities are all about the scrum. Expect fireworks.
Scott Williams v Juan Martin Hernandez
The Scarlets centre scored the 10th try of his Test career against the Wallabies last week and wins his 40th cap on Saturday, lining up alongside Jonathan Davies.
Although not as physical as Jamie Roberts, what Williams lacks in size he compensates for with his creative abilities, as well as his instinct to sniff an opportunistic try – remember his match-winning score against England in 2012 at Twickenham?
Although he has yet to touch down against the Pumas in three Tests, Williams is in excellent form and will pose a real threat in midfield.
Opposite him on Saturday is ‘El Mago’ – The Magician, Juan Martin Hernandez.Â
At 34, Hernandez – possibly the most naturally gifted footballer to wear a Pumas jersey – still produces game-changing moments from thin air. He returned to Argentina with Los Jaguares after 13 seasons in France when Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade said he would not select European-based players.
Hernandez still believes he has the magic at Test level, despite a long list of injuries which have hindered his career. If he’s in the mood, we could be in store for some spectacular rugby.
