Argentina coach Cheika laughs off favourites tag against All Blacks

Argentina coach Michael Cheika on Thursday laughed off suggestions his in-form team are favourites to notch another win over New Zealand in this weekend's Rugby Championship Test at Hamilton.

The Pumas sit atop the standings at the midway point following Saturday's 25-18 upset of the struggling All Blacks in Christchurch.

That result followed their record 48-17 thrashing of Australia in San Juan and left them eyeing three-successive Rugby Championship wins for the first time.

But Cheika said he could not accept any suggestion the visitors would be favourites this Saturday against a New Zealand side who have slumped to six losses in their last eight Tests.

"Mate, we're in New Zealand, playing against New Zealand," he told journalists.

"I know that you guys like to manoeuvre the story around, but we're about as underdog as you get. You win once, and then no one expects you to win again.

"There's absolutely no benefit for any of us to think about anything like that."

New Zealand

15 Jordie Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Rieko Ioane, 12 David Havili, 11 Caleb Clarke, 10 Richie Mo’unga, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Ardie Savea, 7 Sam Cane (captain), 6 Shannon Frizell, 5 Scott Barrett, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Tyrel Lomax, 2 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 1 Ethan de Groot

Substitutes: 16 Dane Coles, 17 George Bower, 18 Fletcher Newell, 19 Brodie Retallick, 20 Dalton Papali’i, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Quinn Tupaea

Argentina

15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo

Substitutes: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas,