Powerhouse hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau has warned the Wallabies forwards face their toughest assignment in the Rugby Championship on Saturday night by rating Argentina’s pack the best in the competition.
The Pumas may be ranked eighth in the world but Polota-Nau believes their forward play is without peer in the southern hemisphere.
The tournament newcomers have certainly made an instant splash in the four-nation competition by unsettling both New Zealand and South Africa in the opening three rounds.
Polota-Nau spelt out the danger the big, aggressive Argentine forwards pose at scrum time and at the breakdown by remarking their play was superior to the world champion All Blacks and Springboks.
“It’s on par, but if anything better,” the 37-Test rake said on Thursday.
The Pumas’ bruising defence and their ability to turnover possession by throwing numbers into the rucks and mauls were a highlight in their 16-all draw against the Boks before scaring the All Blacks at 9-5 down 65 minutes into last weekend’s Wellington Test.
“They probably have the stats for the highest turnovers and it’s because of all their forwards working so well in the defensive area and jackling and creating such a mess at the breakdown,” Polota-Nau said.
“Technically if we’re not sound we’ll get punished.
“So as a contest it’s on par or if not better because I think from (numbers) one to eight they can all be jacklers.”
Winger Digby Ioane also underlined the challenge at the tackle area for the Wallabies at Gold Coast’s Skilled Park: “They’re ruthless at the breakdown so that’s our main focus.”
Australia’s scrum performed solidly in their past two outings but the selection of 122kg lock Kane Douglas, over the lighter Rob Simmons, to replace the injured Sitaleki Timani has shown they’re also wary about being outmuscled by the Pumas in the set-piece.
In scrummaging work, the Wallabies have prepared for all matter of surprises from a team renowned for their hostility and power up front.
“That’s the beauty of the Argies, they’re quite the unorthodox team so we actually don’t know what to expect,” Polota-Nau said.
“We’re prepping by all means necessary to make sure that any scenario we can (1) stop but (2) stick to our plan – of getting the ball in and out and let the backs do the rest.”
Pumas prop Marcos Ayerza stressed the tourists see scrum dominance as a huge mental and physical boost.
“It’s historically been a main objective for any Argentinian team, to have a solid scrum and build from that psychological domination, and we’re trying to bring that back,” he said.
“From that dominance, even if it might be an inch, you start building your confidence with every part of the game.”
richard
Guest
Polota-Nau suggesting the Argies have the best pack in the comp is stretching things a bit, BUT I will say, they definitely have one of the most physical packs in world rugby. They more than held their own v the ab's pack - in fact shaded it in the first half, but as the game wore on, the ab's upped the tempo, and dominated the last 20 mins of the game as the big puma's forwards started to wilt. With more experience, they will in time rectify this situation and get wins v both the ab's and boks. Also, at no stage was the argie scrum dominant over the ab's scrum.
A Swedish Herminator
Guest
To agree or not agree? "Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe could well hold a claim to being the player of the Rugby Championship thus far. He has been simply brilliant in his role as Pumas skipper, their No.8 and the man who has never shirked a tackle and has led from the front." (http://www.espnscrum.com/the-rugby-championship/rugby/story/169769.html)
liam
Guest
buddy. did you just refer to the wallabies pack as an irresistable force? hahahahahah!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Why does everyone focus on the forwards? The Wallabies WILL BE OK! Focusing on forwards suggest that there game is going to be won there. I am confident that the Wallaby forwards will gain parity! I just hope that the Wallabies are more focused on winning rather than the battle of the forwards! .. Yeah, yeah, we all know that the game is likely to be won 'up front' so what are 'we thinking' - lose the battle up front and Wallabies lose?? What if the forwards gain parity? does that mean the game is gaing to be a draw? Wallabies to win by 2 tries!
West
Guest
Yep, no doubt about it pumas forwards taught the wc holders a valuable lesson in forward attacking. All blacks had to man up or risk being overrun by mad and savage Argentina forward pack of animals. All blacks are lucky they cn mix it with most loosest and reckless packs By literally throwing themselves at the oppersiton head first to take control and subdue the offenders and get the machine cranking and begin unloading itself on a by that stage a desperate and poorly recovering defensive team. Now!!! The point is wallabies will be under the pump intense pressure that will be applied consistently and relentless they seek weakness and if found theres not much stopping them. Wallabies forward must stomp the big foot on the head of the arginetina forwards or be overthrown from The gold coast.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Rugby Reg Have confidence mate!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
I concur! Polota-Nau should be much more positive and in the words of Nike just do it! I'll be there and looking forward to a good game - very interested to see Hooper back up ... a superstart in the making that kiddo is! Watching him alone is worth the entry fee! The Wallabies should win this comfortably if they play smart! (hmmm is that to much to ask?). The show ponies in the team need to start earning their keep! The earlier match in NZ will also be won in a canter if the Boks want to kick and chase (they will not be able to stop that .. its in their DNA!). Do what they did last week against the Wallabies and I'd think the AB back three will punish them! ... Thinking about it, I think the AB's will do that anyhow. IMO the Boks also have a potential superstar in the making - Johan Goosen - lets see if the Bok machine and their DNA stunts his progress!
Rugby Tragic
Guest
Kicking is OK.. BUT only kicking with a purpose! ... none of those little grubbers when one in in their own danger zone or aimless kicks that are not able to be contested. How many times did we see those responsible for those grubber and up and unders (and no point in naming the 'culprits' we all know) just hoof the pill and give away possession? What were they trying to do, test the defence of their own side?? I think that if the Argies gain possession, they will try and keep it tight, believing that might be the Wallabies archilles heel, they will rumble it up with their tight five. That is their game. The Wallabies must not be drawn into it - if they play the Argies game they might regret it. Wallabies have to play to their own strengths not their opponents. Now ummm what are the Wallabies strength ?? They all say the 'ball will beat the man' ... that is the way to breach the Argies defence. It is also a question of attitude.. look how Michael Hooper played last week against the Boks. He was a revelation! Even against the AB's he was not as quite as effective but hell, he gave it his best shot and that was all you could ask of him! I am really looking forward to watching him play tomorrow night - to me watching players with that attitude is worth the price of the ticket alone! I have a bonus watching Shipperly ... now he on debut did nothing wrong, not once did he give up possession and his hunting for work was admirable as well. I also hope to see Liam Gill on the field as well. Gill is presently an OS flanker but I know one of guys who coached him and he tells me he is filling out big time! Perhaps a future No 8 if Hooper locks up No 7 - Higgers at No 6 ...Hmmm where does that leave Pocock? ... where does the future lie?
Rugby Reg
Roar Rookie
Running rugby is all well and good, but we need forward parity for quick ball to unleash our backs. Forward play is critical, and we need our wallabies to stand up.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Much like Cooper the other week saying the All Blacks played the best game of their careers Polota-Nau is just trying to soften the blow if the Argies pack dominate them this weekend. They think we eat up everything they tell us as gospel. Imo the All Blacks forwards dominated the second half when they actually started playing the tight game.
AdamS
Roar Guru
The Pumas' pack is consistently good, the Wobbilies are goodly inconsistent. We will have to play well and to a plan to win. The pan must include unleashing our backs and returning to running rugby. We have lost to lesser teams when under less pressure in the past. The Pumas playing style will come under increasing pressure and just like the Boks did, they will have to adapt to survive in the RC.
Rugby Reg
Roar Rookie
no way they are up to the AB's standard, what a joke. may i remind everbody we smashed the boks in scrum time last week we should not have any issues with this game. WB's in a canter
Atawhai Drive
Roar Guru
A stage-managed press conference in which TPN and Digby sounded like they were reading from an ARU Media Unit-prepared script, aimed at giving the Test a bit of a boost in a weekend dominated by AFL and NRL finals. Topo Rodriguez, who knows a bit about forward play, reckons the current Argentinian eight are not up to the standard set by their predecessors. We'll see, but I have a bad feeling about this one.
HardcorePrawn
Roar Guru
My first thought on reading this too. It almost sounds like Tatafu is 'managing expectations' (to use some business parlance); i.e. 'Don't expect us to win this easily, or even win at all.' I have a hunch that Australia will win this one though, but with the onus on the Wallabies to deliver a decent performance and result, and the Pumas pack being what it is, it might be a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object. I'm really looking forward to this I must say, let's hope that Nine don't shaft us Melbourne viewers again!
WQ
Guest
Excellent comment biltongbek and not something I had thought about. You would imagine the Refs will get tougher and tougher on the infringing around the ruck, however I have not seen it so far, the got away with plenty in the Test last weekend against the All Blacks without so much as a warning. I think there was something like 14 penalties prior to the sin binning. I suspect this has a bit to do with the Northern Hemisphere Refs and the fact they have a different ideal about the way the game should be played.
WQ
Guest
Rugby Tragic, I agree they definitely will not want an arm wrestle with the Argies, if it becomes an arm wrestle the Argies will frustrate and suffocate them out of it. Unbelievably I think this week probably requires an amount of kicking from the Wallabies, as the Argie defense will be difficult to breach. I can't believe I just said that! Now that I have said that, I don't mean the stupid dribbly kicks I mean deep long down the other end in the corners type kicks, preferably in to touch, with an excellent chase. This game is going to be all about field position for the Wallabies, not necessarily about copious amounts of possession.
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
Quite right. But these comments on here are just off the cuff too..........who cares? ;) Or as my wife says 'don't ask me to stop and think about what I'm saying. It slows me down too much'. :(
Justin2
Guest
Amazes me how people take every thing said by a player literally and get upset about it. These are just off the cuff remarks, who gives a toss...
moaman
Roar Guru
Blinky------Would be funny,in a tragic sort of way,if you were proved right about the kicking. This Wallabies setup seems strangely reactionary. Typical case was at Newcastle where they eschewed kickable penalties-possibly because the crowd booed previous shots. I just read the following article by Cobus Visage on another site; just the kind of actual analysis that was missing from Campese's throwaway post yesterday.You don't have to agree with it but at least it is something tangible and not regurgitated whine-biscuits. http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16016_8073885,00.html
Blinky Bill of Bellingen
Guest
RT - My guess is that we won't kick much at all against the Puma's. And yet in a strange twist of fate it seems to me that a smart kicking game would actually be a pretty decent idea against the Argies. That is IF we got our kick chase going properly. BUT.......you never heard it from me.