Many have been crying for them, but Argentina believe their time has come and a “special day” awaits on the Gold Coast.
After three seasons and 15 matches, with only one draw to show for their time in The Rugby Championship, the Pumas say they are finally ready to pounce and close out a Test win.
In a worry for the Wallabies on Saturday night, inspirational captain Agustin Creevy declared his team had learned from heart-breaking fade-outs to be on the cusp of an historic performance.
“We have had a lot of chances to win,” the hooker said on Friday. “Every match we can win, but tomorrow is a special day for us.”
The Pumas’ last victory in Australia was way back in 1983 when their superboot Hugo Porta was acclaimed as the best flyhalf in the world.
It will take some more magic from sniping No.10 Nicolas Sanchez behind a powerhouse forward pack, hungry for scrum dominance, to break the drought.
Their Rugby Championship hoodoo looked over three weeks ago when they led South Africa 28-16 with 21 minutes left in Salta but wilted to fall 33-31 at the death.
It was the same story on the Gold Coast two years ago, up 19-9 with 20 minutes to go before falling 23-19, while Argentina failed to convert their forward dominance in pelting rain last season in Perth, when Australia held on by their fingernails to win 14-13.
Creevy has huge respect for the Wallabies, rating them even better now than when they blitzed his side 54-17 last year, but says his improved Pumas are far more confident and composed.
“We have grown up a lot and have confidence in our side,” he said.
“We have to have an excellent match for 80 minutes and concentrate for 80 minutes.”
The scrum battle between the front-rows, particularly at hooker where milestone man Tatafu Polota-Nau goes head to head with Creevy, will be pivotal to the result.
In Rosario last October, the Wallabies took the wind out of Argentina’s sails by luckily withstanding seven straight scrums, and having a man sin-binned in the process, before their backs cut loose in general play.
Wary Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper predicted a high-tempo attacking game if forecast rain stays away from Cbus Super Stadium, but he knows they also have to cope with the Pumas’ unique game of quick, short off-loads close to the ruck.
Hooper pointed to Polota-Nau, celebrating his 50th Test cap, as the man to fill the injured Wycliff Palu’s boots and lead the way in his long-awaited return from a knee injury.
“Taf, like Cliff, is always able to make game changing plays – big tackles and great runs,” Hooper said.
“He’s really stepped up as a scrum leader (this week), and has definitely dominated the scrum and given it direction.”
THE WALLABIES’ TEST RECORD AGAINST ARGENTINA
Played 21: Australia 16, Argentina 4, Drawn 1
In Australia 11: Australia 10, Argentina 1.
In Rugby Championship 4: Australia 4, Argentina 0.
Last encounter: Australia 54-17, in Rosario, Oct 2013Most points in a match
54 – Australia in Rosario, Oct 2013Most points by an individual
28 – Michael Lynagh in 1995
23 – Hugo Porta in 1987.Australia v Argentina
Venue: Gold Coast’s Cbus Super Stadium
Kick-off: Saturday 8.05pm (AEST)
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZ)Wallabies: Israel Folau, Peter Betham, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Rob Horne, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps; Ben McCalman, Michael Hooper (capt), Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Sam Carter, Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper. Res: James Hanson, Pek Cowan, Ben Alexander, James Horwill, Scott Higginbotham, Matt Hodgson, Nic White, Kurtley Beale.
Pumas: Joaquin Tuculet, Juan Imhoff, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Manuel Montero, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Leonardo Senatore, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Matias Alemanno, Mariano Galarza, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza. Res: Matias Cortese, Bruno Postiglioni, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Benjamin Macome, Rodrigo Baez, Tomas Cubelli, Jeronimo De la Fuente, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.
South Africa have managed to grind out victory in a "proper Test match", edging Argentina 22-21 in their final Rugby Championship fixture at Ellis…
Argentina's rugby union players believe Michael Cheika is instilling belief into them that they can be world beaters. The Australian coach is having an…
A tournament that was positioned perfectly at the mid-point, with all four sides having won and lost twice, eventually split into two, with New…
This year’s Rugby Championship has been fantastic for its closeness, and even if it probably did open up a bit with last weekend’s results,…
Sack all the tipsters. With all sides entering Round 3 with a win and a loss to their name, all conventional wisdom pointed to…
The second Test between Argentina and Australia hit many people like a bucket of ice water. The first Test was a rollercoaster that had…
