The Stats Don't Lie: Carter eyes 1400th, Pumas seek elusive first

Argentina have only scored 210 points against the All Blacks in 16 matches, while the All Blacks have clocked up 693. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

Tracey Nelson preview's tomorrow night's test where Argentina head to Hamilton searching yet again for that elusive win over the All Blacks.

In 16 test matches the best Argentina has managed is a draw against the All Blacks, which came back in 1985. Argentina have only scored 210 points against the All Blacks in those 16 matches, while the All Blacks have clocked up 693.

While they may never have beaten the All Blacks, Argentina can boast that they have managed to score a try against them in nine of the last 10 games. The last time the All Blacks held Argentina try-less was in Buenos Aires in 1991.

The last time these sides met in Hamilton was in 2004 when the All Blacks won 41-7. Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore, Richie McCaw and Dan Carter are the only All Blacks remaining from that game, although Carter was on the bench that day and never took the field.

Francis Saili will make his test debut this weekend, and is the 17th All Black debutant to take the field under head coach Steve Hansen.

Dan Carter is set to become the first player to reach 1400 points in test rugby, currently sitting on 1399. He has scored 27 points against Argentina in two games, made up of one try, five conversions, and four penalty goals.

Richie McCaw will equal George Gregan's record of 48 Rugby Championship/Tri-Nations matches this weekend. McCaw has scored 20 tries for the All Blacks but has never scored against Argentina.

Argentina have won 87 percent of their lineouts and just 60 percent of their scrums in their first two Rugby Championship games against South Africa this year.

Argentina have conceded 18 penalties and two yellow cards in their opening two Rugby Championship matches, and have also had Leonardo Senatore suspended for nine weeks for biting in the test match against South Africa last week in Mendoza. The All Blacks have conceded 21 penalties in their first two matches.

French referee Jerome Garces has officiated in one previous test match involving the All Blacks, which was last November's game against Scotland in Edinburgh. In that game the All Blacks were penalised 12 times (including a yellow card) while Scotland conceded just seven penalties.

If the All Blacks can win this weekend they will equal France's record for the most test wins (382). However, the All Blacks will have achieved this in 504 test matches whereas France have played 695 test matches for their 382 wins.