Rugged flanker Scott Fardy believes the tight-knit Wallabies possess the resilience to cope with the worst road trip in world sport and deny Argentina a historic Rugby Championship victory.
Despite falling in a hole at the end of last weekend’s 28-10 loss to South Africa, and undergoing a 24-hour trip to South America, Fardy is confident Australia will thrive in Mendoza.
The Wallabies faced the very same trip in 2013 – except for the game being in Rosario – and ran riot out wide in a 54-17 thumping of the Pumas.
The tireless Fardy was among Australia’s best that day, and he also starred against the Boks on Saturday, pulling off 19 tackles, two pilfers and 10 runs.
The towering Brumbies forward said the Wallabies’ next battle was as much mental as physical.
“This is one of the toughest travel days in sport,” the blindside flanker told AAP.
“We are out of Cape Town at 4.30am (on Monday) in the morning to get travelling. Not many other codes or teams do that.
“It’s a huge travel day and we have to get our bodies right to do that.”
The Wallabies will finally arrive in Argentina on Monday night, and they will still be smarting from their late defeat at Newlands.
“History will show the score and not what we did for the first 70 minutes,” Fardy said.
“We’re bitterly disappointed with the result and we showed a lot of character there but Test match footy is about winning.”
The Pumas, beaten 34-13 by New Zealand on Sunday morning (AEST), remain winless after three seasons and 17 Tests in the Rugby Championship but have pushed all three rivals and it’s only a matter of time before a breakthrough success.
Both Fardy and halfback Nick Phipps feared an unjustified backlash from Australian sports fans who would ignore or dismiss their brave efforts due to the unflattering scoreline.
“I guess we’re the whipping boys and everyone likes to lay into us,” Fardy said.
“Even at home we’re the code that seems to get written off. We win games against top-five nations and we still get written off. It can be frustrating.”
david
Guest
What about the Pumas 40 hour trip to New Zealand last year to play against the All Blacks? That was a really long trip !!!
Nobrain
Guest
Argentina an Sa made the same trips earlier and then they travel to NZ and AUS, they came back to this side of the world. They had at least twice as many flying our that NZ and AUS.
Shop
Guest
Problem the Pumas have is that they only have a full squad against the top three teams in the world. When they play the likes of Ireland, and Scotland they are often playing these matches with a B team. As a result they don't have any 'easy' tests.
Shop
Guest
Last year there were direct J'burg to BA flights - not anymore. This year they had to go via Brazil which adds another flight and about 6 hours to the journey. The luggage not arriving until the next day doesn't help either.
Kia Kaha
Roar Guru
Australia are conscious the next scheduled match is at home against New Zealand. It's important they get some much needed confidence before that match. Although they lost in Dunedin last year, their resounding victory in Rosario could be argued inspired their brace of tries in similar dry conditions. When I think back to how positive Australia went into the RC with their S15 victory and convincing series victory against France, it must be alarming to the ARU to see such paltry crowds for the home games. Despite an unbeaten home campaign, you get the impression that confidence has taken a dive with the Eden Park performance and conceding those late tries in Cape Town is not helping that healing process after a narrow escape at home against SA. How Link desperately needs a tonic to perk up his players before they set off for their vital autumn campaign given the pool of death context hanging over those matches up north. A hugely important game for Australia.
Balotelli
Guest
Expect another close defeat for the Pumas.. The Wallabies will be looking for redemption and to save face when they go back home...A victory will buy them some time.. As for the Pumas 1 feels their squad is just too thin...I think they should have brought a few more of their experienced players,Albacete,Santiago Fernandez,Gonzalo Tiesi,Tomas Leonardi and even Bustos Moyano.. They could have added depth to their squad and enabled them to play a more refreshed side... Some of the players are just too inexperienced at the moment...
Balotelli
Guest
Expect another close defeat for the Pumas.. The Wallabies will be looking for redemption and to save face when they go back home...A victory will buy them some time.. As for the Pumas 1 feels their squad is just too thin...I think they should have brought a few more of their experienced players,Albacete,Santiago Fernandez,Gonzalo Tiesi,Tomas Leonardi and even Bustos Moyano.. They could have added depth to their squad and enabled them to play a more refreshed side... Some of the players are just too inexperienced at the moment...
Chris
Guest
Can't wait until the "World Rugby Rugby World Cup"
Chris
Guest
For the sake of rugby I'd like to see Argentina win, but it isn't going to happen. Sure they have remained competitive against South Africa and the Wallabies this year, but there is a huge difference between remaining competitive and actually winning. The brutal reality is they have won just two of their last 22 games, against Italy (world number 14) and Georgia (world number 15). Australia @ 1.55 is the best bet I've seen in a long time.
Rugby Tragic
Guest
The Wallabies to bounce back with a win by 2 tries or more. As for the travel, the Argies had to come down under, the AB's had to travel. It is a fact of the competition over the past 3 years, nothing new so just get on with it.
Balotelli
Guest
To make matters worse it was a 1 legged affair... What are they smoking at 'World Rugby'...
NaBUru38
Guest
The worst trip in rugby? How about Zimbabwe or Uruguay's travel to Siberia for the 2015 repechage?
Kane
Guest
“Even at home we’re the code that seems to get written off. We win games against top-five nations and we still get written off. It can be frustrating.” Well no that's incorrect you've won one game against a top 5 team and that was against the Springboks this year. You have however lost 8 times to top 5 teams under Ewen.
Balotelli
Guest
A defeat against the Pumas will spell disaster for the Australian rugby... And i feel Ewin McKenzie will be an endangered species by then