The Wallabies will be out for their first win of The Rugby Championship when they welcome Argentina to Perth. Join us for live scores and commentary from 8.05pm AEST.
Two relatively honourable Bledisloe Cup defeats to the All Blacks were disappointing, but were largely stomached by the Australian rugby community given the dominance of the world’s number one Test nation in recent years.
What happened last Saturday night was not.
The Wallabies were ragdolled 38-12 by the Springboks in Brisbane, and not once looked like the winning side.
With the Pumas earning a bonus point in their 22-17 loss to the Springboks in Week 2, the Wallabies now sit anchored to the bottom of The Rugby Championship table.
Given they face difficult road trips to La Plata and Johannesburg in their final two matches, tonight stands as the Wallabies’ best opportunity to eke out a win in this tournament.
After a third-straight loss to begin his international coaching career, Ewen McKenzie has made four changes to the squad that went down to the Springboks.
Under-performing number nine Will Genia is the highest-profile casualty, with Nick White coming in, Ben Alexander replaces Sekope Kepu up front while Sitaleki Timani and Tevita Kuridrani have been included on the bench.
With regular skipper James Horwill sidelined through injury and Genia benched, number eight Ben Mowen will become the Wallabies’ 80th captain when he leads the side out tonight.
Since being hammered 73-13 in their Rugby Championship opener in Johannesburg, los Pumas have rebounded somewhat.
Yes, they’re still winless but a 22-17 loss to the Springboks in Mendoza and a 28-13 loss to the All Blacks have restored a measure of confidence in Santiago Phelan’s outfit.
Phelan has made five changes to the side that ran out in Hamilton last Saturday night, with Felipe Contepomi, Juan Imhoff, Tomas Cubelli and Gonzalo Tiesi coming into a new-look backline.
Argentina have made just the one change to their forward pack, which has had success in the past two matches with typically rough-and-tumble tactics, with Agustin Creevy replacing Eusebio Guinazu at hooker.
Realistically, despite the Wallabies’ poor form they should manage to get over the line tonight. They have lost to los Pumas since 1997 and their only loss on Australian soil came all the way back in 1983.
Still, McKenzie’s men will have had to improve considerably since Brisbane just seven days ago. Find out how they fare from 8.05pm AEST.
chann wee
Guest
U guys miss Nathan Sharpe - he had size but more importantly he had pride to wear the GOLD Jersey. the new blokes just dont seem to value it much. Maybe they know , there is no one to take their spots. Look at the MIB; DC is injured and Tom Taylor gets his place. poor Colin Slade - 11 MIB caps and cant seem to buy a game now. did u read what EM had to say about White, who in 80 minutes did nothing to move the OZ forward, despite playing the 10th ranked team!!! LOL - clutching at straws.
Mike
Guest
Probably not, Greg. Most Australians couldn't give two hoots about foreign countries like South Africa and New Zealand playing each other, no matter how good their standard of play . They will tune in to watch an Australian team play a foreign country, but they would prefer two Australian teams playing each other, particularly if there is some spite and bile involved. The above doesn't just apply to rugby, or even football in general.
Greg
Guest
rugby could do wonder in Aus if they just put the ABs-Bok game live on free to air
DJW
Guest
I was at the game. It was miserable. I said to someone I doubt any no rugby fans would have been converted. Also agree it would have been much better at NIB. Pattersons is terribke for rugby. The busiest looking parts were where the corporate boxes are.
jeznez
Roar Guru
I just moved back to HK but the boys were up here this weekend. AB is a quality human.
ACT
Guest
CL is kicking over 90% and is a sure 12pts per game. Do you really want to bench that at this stage? QC had a much better game in defence and ok at attack given the weather/opportunities but did not dominate given his experience (& past comparisons to Carter which was always dubious). But prefer to see Toomua who has a lot more improvement in him than QC & with RWC in mind. (IMO QC has peaked/plateaued since his knee went)
Justin3
Guest
You are a dead set fck stick mate
Justin3
Guest
Jez are you with SCC in Singapore now? You will know one of my best mates then - AB.
Zero Gain
Guest
You have just displayed your true intentions so your comments are hence rendered totally irrelevant.
Zero Gain
Guest
Totally right, but Horwill is different.
JR Salazar
Guest
I'm a USA Rugby fan, and I think my boys could fancy their chances against the WB.
Ex Supporter
Guest
Pumas by 15+
Ex Supporter
Guest
The bottom of the barrel win vs the argies is a testament of how much australian rugby has deteriorated in recent years, nothing lucky about that...
Ex Supporter
Guest
AGREE!!! OMG wallabies get a scrap of the barrel win and happy with a win? Wake up and smell the roses ARU, You're playing the Argies and Mckenzie if you're happy with this win cos it breaks the losing streak, you still have alot of monkeys on your back. Australian rugby is digging itself in a deeper role, having just watched the ABs vs SA, park aside the controversy, the wallabies are no where near these sides at the international level, wallabies stuck in their own fantasy world. In recent years, when ever the wallabies get a win against sides like ABs or SAs, theres always an overflow of cockiness, from the wallabies camp. Following week they get hammered. There is no consistency, they are complacent, mentally weak. This new age wallabies is a joke and i dont blame the dwindling number of supporters. you gotta give em something to cheer about!!! Now people will see through the dumping of Deans, and I fully support Deans views on QC, ... All the hype with Mckenzie, full of hot air Condolences to the wallaby supporters (or whats left of em) Australian rugby RIP.
Mike
Guest
Okay so the real Magic Sponge has capital initials and a square sponge for a logo. Got it. Errr, also square pants?
Johnno
Guest
jeznez you've definaltey done some time playing for the thirsty 3rds somewhere along the line, love it mate.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
Regrettably I've come to accept that Australia is no longer close to either New Zealand or South Africa. South Africa are a notch below New Zealand, and yet they're so far ahead of the Wallabies. In the forward play the Wallabies can't match them for physicality. The physicality was there for 1st Lions Test and that was it. The Wallabies can't match either side anywhere, in fact. There's no facet of rugby, be it line-outs, of scrums, of set moves, or broken play, or anywhere... no where... There's nothing Australia is better at than those two sides. What New Zealand did to South Africa shows that (1) SA are a good side, but nothing great; (2) if you match them for physicality, they're nothing too special. But the Wallabies couldn't even do that.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
That was on the side and end that I was at Johnno, the Argentine player had to reach at full stretch to his *left* to drag the ball in, if that is the lineout I think you're referring to.
aussie sports lover
Guest
Exactly. Ewen has brought back the Australian way of running rugby. Quade will be pleased. He will have nothing to call toxic anymore. I mean, look at that exhibition of skills and panache against Argentina. Great times ahead.
Dmac
Guest
Was there a single wallaby forward who got over the advantage line on a hit up even once in the game? There is no impact player at all in the forwards. They are just utterly harmless.