Coming off a demoralising 18-point loss, the Wallabies need to get back to winning ways against the Pumas when they meet at Suncorp Stadium.
The Wallabies find themselves in last place after the first round of a shortened Rugby Championship. Not only did they lose at the weekend, but tonight’s opponents, the Pumas, claimed a bonus point in their defeat at the hands of New Zealand, lifting the Argentines off the bottom of the ladder.
The losses mean Argentina are out to snap a six-game losing streak, while Australia will look to avoid their third consecutive loss. Suncorp Stadium is something of a fortress for Australia, however, with Michael Cheika’s men chasing a fifth consecutive victory at the venue.
Head-to-head, Australia have won seven of the last eight, although Argentina beat the Wallabies last year on the Gold Coast. The return match was dominated by Argentina in the first half before the Wallabies thundered back for a 45-34 win. Nevertheless, Argentina were the better team as a whole in the two games.
(Steven Markham/Getty Images)
Both losses were at the hands of ‘B teams’. New Zealand opted to rest a number of players, as is their habit when they play Argentina, while Rassie Erasmus chose to split up his squad, sending his best footballers to New Zealand early, but he still got the job done over Michael Hooper’s men.
Although unlikely, the Wallabies can win the Rugby Championship from here. They need to win tonight, preferably with a bonus point while keeping Argentina from clinching one. They’d want New Zealand to beat the men from the Republic by eight or more yet miss out on the bonus point, and then they’d need the Pumas to knock over the Springboks. Not to mention they’d need to beat New Zealand, but they wouldn’t need to beat them by much.
Although Mario Ledesma has made five changes to the team that lost 20-16, it remains loaded with Jaguares players. Australia will be breathing a sigh of relief after the Pumas coach rested Emiliano Boffelli, a player who can kick goals from anywhere in the attacking half.
Regardless of this, Australia will still need to be very disciplined. The yellow card to Taniela Tupou last weekend was a big part of Australia’s loss. Let’s remember, though, that Argentina often struggle with the number of penalties they give away, so this could be a point of difference for the Wallabies.
While Australia had a terrible day out when they played the Boks, the backline wasn’t one of their woes. With a floundering forward pack, the backline remains Australia’s last hope.
How will Argentina deal with this? They’ll know from their video review that the Boks shut down the Wallabies by not kicking long when they had to kick and instead putting up box kicks or looking directly to touch. This meant that the Wallabies backs only relied on getting the ball after a set piece and had nowhere near as much room as normal.
But the Pumas were happy to hoof it downfield against the All Blacks. If it didn’t cost them against New Zealand, albeit a B team, wouldn’t it be effective against Australia? Only time will tell.
Maybe they’ll reason that if they can shut the Aussie backs down, the forwards will struggle for gain-line success against a set defensive line, so putting them back inside their own half isn’t a bad idea.
The set piece could also decide this game. Australia’s lineout stayed strong throughout last weekend’s game and their scrum improved as the match wore on. Argentina’s scrum isn’t what it used to be, but Guido Petti will be a threat at lineout time. He can claim to be the player with the most lineout steals in Super Rugby, so Izack Rodda and Rory Arnold will need to be wary.
Cheika has made just one change to the forward pack which battled to make metres against the Boks, with Scott Sio slotting in for James Slipper, who drops to the bench. They’ll need to have a much better game both in attack and defence.
Prediction
Australia can win this, but so can the Pumas. You’d have to back the hosts at a venue where they’ve had so much success, but it won’t be by much.
Australia by 9.
riddler
Roar Rookie
37mins till midday and the first beer of the day!!!! C'mon the green and gold!!!
Peterj
Guest
I feel the same! Must be the heat we had here in the UK this week.
riddler
Roar Rookie
woken with a jump in my step and ready for the wallabies to go large and beat the argies!! c'mon oz!!! do us proud lads!!
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Keep selecting the same players, keep getting beaten. Insanity....
Chivas
Roar Rookie
Hope Wallabies make a good account of themselves. Still think Coach niwit has missed a trick with not having McAffrey, but one player at this late stage is probably not going to be enough of a difference. I pick Argentina by over 7. But the Wallabies will be up for this. They have pride and the tenacity to get up straight after being knocked down. I don’t think that Australian attitude will die and means they alway puts themselves in the mix, no matter the odds.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Rotgut, I was feeling optimistic about tonight's game. I was looking forward to donning my Wallaby colours, trundling up to Lang Park and cheering my national team to a momentum building win. After reading tour post, I am now despondent, will stay in my caravan located in the foothills and drown my sorrows in my latest batch of cheap home brew. ????
Double Agent
Guest
A blunder? Don't worry- he'll definitely manage a few blunders - then blame someone else!!
Double Agent
Guest
The Jaguars came 2nd in the comp. The Pumas were a bees dick away from beating the ABs last week. It ain't gunna be easy beating them!!
Double Agent
Guest
I hope you realise that it's not Hooper's idea to play out wide. That's where the coach wants him.
PeterK
Roar Guru
The crux of the game not mentioned by Tom English is the breakdown, that is where wallabies lost the game against the boks, as many predicted. Arg are hard at the breakdown as well, yet this has been ignored by Cheika. Instead no jackals have been selected except Latu on the bench, and Hooper (I observe) rucks has been retained. Arg will be smashed at the ruck yet again.
PeterK
Roar Guru
Genia was very good in a lot of games in 2017
Adsa
Roar Rookie
Tonight Hooper needs to be a leader of the forward pack and captain from the front. The Argies have a very good back row and Matera is playing strongly. Too many times we see Hoops out in the backs and our piggies getting dusted. If Hooper swans it out wide while the Puma back row go in hard and hunt as pack we will get touched up on the score board. Hooper needs to be in the trenches with the other forwards contesting the rucks and malls and directing them to slow and disrupt the Argies quick ball. I know that Chieka has a game plan that sees Hooper play wide, however at some stage the highest paid player in Oz rugby has to show some sense of match awareness and be leader of the forwards when required. Oz by 3 in a nail biter. Go Wallabies.
Rotgut
Roar Rookie
Bluesfan, the selection issues continue despite another flogging in the rucks last weekend. We need a monkey that can snaffle - not a wide running 7 who appears to be not sure of his role. if he knows, please someone let the rest of us know. We had a really good 7 (Gill) who saw the writing on the wall and left town. Higgenbottom has been treated poorly by your (not my) coach for not playing tight enough - what about Hooper who runs around like a bloody chook. Why not give Wright a trial. Why is Hodge on the wing again when he has not shone at wing all year? How can Quade not be in the mix - certainly provides more skills and options that Foley. Toomua no good in UK and no good for the Rebs. A blind brown dog would perform better before & after games than our present coach. Beale makes more errors than Quade yet walks into the team. If Beale runs across field tonight. we will be absolutley smashed. Surely we know what Beale and Hooper can do, why not start with Wright and JOC to access their impact before WC. Kepu was our worst prop last week yet he remains in run on squad. Pumas by 8 +.
John
Roar Rookie
The Pumas will take this test match easily. Pumas by 18+ points.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
If you didn’t see it Rids, you might wanna turn on the tele during test matches? Jokes aside, we should not forget that these players are not rugby robots. Genia is human, therefore has a brain and a heart. Imagine anyone with a brain putting his body on the line through: - Hounding out of the top job of his Super title coach, MacKenzie (reference: Cheika-Foley loyalty history) - Inexplicable shunning of his halves partner in Quade in the phase when he consistently outplayed the incumbent, especially 2015-2017 (cue the ABC’s) - Tolerance of a questionable and illogical selection policy - Tolerance of game plans that neglect a deliverable Plan B - Tolerance of spasmodic development of an international pack of forwards (reference: the Hannigan work experience scenario) Through all this a quality player zips his lip and puts his body on the line. Just because the game is physical doesn’t mean that players don’t think or feel. Who would choose risk injury for an unclear and obviously flawed system? Well, he and other quality players have, and do. He should not shirk his duty in the national jersey. But, like anyone else, he’s only human.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
I've been waiting a long time to see things click so I hope you're right.
Doctordbx
Roar Rookie
Mate... we need to be realistic about our World Cup chances... we're an also ran in this coming World Cup.
Cal
Guest
As much as I'd like to see an argy win, aus will finish them. 35 - 20
Machooka
Roar Guru
Thanks Tom for this preview of tonight's important game... an important game for both teams. C'arn da Wallaby... you can. You should. You must. You better do!
Machooka
Roar Guru
Ffs... hope so Paul! ;)