If the first series of test-matches last weekend saw the domination of the nations of the southern hemisphere over those of the North (apart from the XV of France winner of Japan), it nevertheless gave glimpses on the part of the European teams sufficient resources to take their revenge on Saturday.
Serene Blacks against Ireland
Serene after their clear victory (42-19) at Eden Park in Auckland last Saturday, the New Zealanders have logically renewed their team, in which the only change is the tenure in third row Dalton Papalii (24 years old, 13 sel.).
The Clover XV, which has never won in New Zealand, did the same, right winger Mack Hansen, recovered from Covid-19, replaces Keith Earls, author of the first of three Irish tries at Eden Park.
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Victim of yet another concussion during the first test match, Irish fly-half Johnny Sexton, 36, was reappointed and will also hold the captain's armband.
“
Johnny is fine, he is in good shape.
He is fit to play on Saturday
,” Irish assistant coach Mike Catt said on Tuesday.
Australia suspicious, England rejuvenated
The Wallabies, reduced to 14 in Perth and victorious (30-28) over the XV of the Rose, must absolutely show another face on Saturday in Brisbane because the English, remarkably helped by their "finishers", very nearly win, with two tries scored in the 80th minute and the 80th+3.
To do this, coach Dave Rennie, deprived of second line Darcy Swain, suspended for the next two matches after the red card received during the first test, has reshuffled his workforce by a third.
Eddie Jones, on the grill after a fourth successive defeat, meanwhile took a gamble on making four changes, bringing youngsters Jack van Poortvliet (21) into the fray, three-quarters Tommy Freeman (21) and Guy Porter (25), and third line Sam Underhill (25).
Wales believes in it against the Springboks
Leek's XV did more than shake up the world champions last Saturday in Pretoria: they made them doubt until the very end, since only a stupid fault from their opener and captain Dan Biggar allowed the Springboks to win. , on a penalty from Damian Willemse (29-26).
On the strength of this observation, the Welsh coach Wayne Pivac therefore only made a change in his formation for the second test in Bloemfontein, while his South African counterpart Jacques Nienaber did the opposite: only four of the twenty- three players who played on the lawn of Pretoria remain in the team lined up on Saturday.
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Some of the executives of the world title in 2019 have thus been dismissed, the third line and usual captain of the Springboks Siya Kolisi and the scrum half Faf de Klerk in particular.
In their place: young people, including six who have never yet been selected in the green and gold jersey.
The Pumas for the pass of two against Scotland
Argentina, on their first outing under new coach Michael Cheika and on their first home game in almost three years, did things right by dominating Scotland (26-18).
In Salta on Saturday, they will have to repeat this performance, despite the absence of their starting hinge, scrum half Tomas Cubelli and fly-half Nicolas Sanchez having withdrawn for the rest of the tour due to injuries suffered during of the first test.
The program for the second test-matches:
New Zealand - Ireland, in Dunedin (09:05)
Australia - England, in Brisbane (11:55 a.m.)
South Africa - Wales, in Bloemfontein (5:05 p.m.)
Argentina - Scotland, in Salta (9:10 p.m.)
