Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry between the All Blacks and Springboks is the biggest series in world rugby right now. But Argentina are more involved than you think — Kolisi got hurt in Buenos Aires, and Los Pumas haven’t faced New Zealand in 12 years.
The Nations Championship 2026 squads for Argentina’s November opponents will define whether Los Pumas can reach the Twickenham final. After a 1-2 record in the July window — beating Wales, losing to Scotland and England — Argentina travel to Europe in November facing Ireland, Italy and France in three consecutive away Tests. Here’s what each squad brings and what Argentina need to prepare for. Argentina — Los Pumas Squad Assessment The July window gave clear signals about this squad’s strengths and areas to fix before November. What’s working: Pablo Petti reaching 100 caps against Wales was more than a milestone — it reflected the reliability he brings to the lineout. That set-piece platform has been Argentina’s most consistent asset in July. Bautista Oviedo was the standout performer of the window, his ruck work directly freeing the nine to control tempo. The return of Marcos Kremer after missing the Scotland match restored the physical balance in the loose forwards that Argentina need in European conditions. What needs fixing: The aerial game. Argentina lost the kick-chase battle against Scotland and it wasn’t resolved against Wales either. France in particular will target this relentlessly at the Stade de France. The maul defence inside the 25-yard zone — which cost Argentina against Scotland — will be tested again by Ireland’s powerful driving lineout. For the full July analysis, read our Argentina Nations Championship 2026 November tour preview. Ireland — The Hardest Test Ireland arrive at the Nations Championship 2026 as the top-ranked northern hemisphere nation and the most complete team Argentina will face in November. Their squad is built on the same structures that have made them the dominant force in Six Nations rugby for the past three seasons. Key…
The Nations Championship 2026 is the most significant change to international rugby’s calendar in over a decade — and Argentina are already three matches into it. Los Pumas face all six Six Nations nations across July and November, with the tournament culminating in a grand final at Twickenham on 29 November 2026. What Is the Nations Championship 2026? The Nations Championship 2026 replaced the Rugby Championship in even-numbered years as part of a World Rugby restructure. The new format brings together 12 nations: the six Six Nations teams (England, Ireland, France, Scotland, Wales, Italy), the four Rugby Championship nations (Argentina, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia), plus Fiji and Japan. Each team plays six cross-hemisphere matches — southern hemisphere nations face northern hemisphere opponents and vice versa. The group winners from each…
