Watching tapes: Wallabies
Related links
Teams
Also see
Wallabies number ten Quade Cooper admits there has been a great deal of research done on Argentina ahead of Saturday's meeting at Skilled Park.
Australia are looking to build on their first Rugby Championship win but will not underestimate the Pumas, who held the Springboks in Mendoza.
"There's been a lot of tape-watching this week for a lot of the boys," Cooper said ahead of the clash.
"We don't know much about them and no one in the team, except for Sharpey, has had the opportunity to play against them.
"Their unpredictability is a big strength... and also their forward pack. They're definitely a team we're not taking lightly at all. They're going to throw a lot at us."
The enigmatic Cooper will be faced with extra responsibility following the season-ending knee injury to scrum-half Will Genia last weekend.
Melbourne Rebels nine Nick Phipps comes into the starting line-up at the base in one of three changes to the Wallabies starting team from the Springbok match they won in Perth.
Comments
Alaskarugby says...
@georgesmith
Sure, he's enigmatic. The enigma is how people continue to rate him.
Posted 05:39 15th September 2012
georgesmith says...
Oh pliz! Q. Cooper is anything but enigmatic. As of lately that is.
Posted 07:59 14th September 2012
PREEST says...
The Pumas could win this one, though I think they would like their chances more of a win at home in Argentina. The Pumas will certainly match, if not be better than the Wallaby pack this weekend. They need to shut down Quade Cooper. When he is unsettled, the rest of the back line seems to falter. Should be a good spectacle this weekend.
Posted 07:51 14th September 2012
tha_mai says...
trinats lets not get carried away - wallabies will welcome ANY try, scored by anyone on their team. Apart from Iaone who hasn't seen a test try in over a year they have not exactly been flowing for the team either, 8 tries in seven tests for 2012. They have been outscored this year, and a loss tomorrow would give a 50/50 win/loss record, yet will still be ahem the second best team in the world.
Picking them to win, but if not, maybe that cheeky Argentina media suggestion of going back to tri-Nations (minus Australia) might be a good idea?
Posted 02:35 14th September 2012
tha_mai says...
oz by 5; think last week was argentina's 100% game, that and a reported 26,000km of travel already this tournament think an improving wallabies team at home may be too much to ask
Posted 02:29 14th September 2012
georgesmith says...
With R. Deans still around, not even Q. Cooper at his deadly best will be able to save the Wobblies and the hopeless coach. R. Deans has lost to Scotland, Samoa abd Ireland. It will be a new low on Saturday when Wobblies crash to Pumas.
Posted 00:55 14th September 2012
rakavi187 says...
The Pumas forwards to score 3 tries....and win by 10points.
Posted 00:51 14th September 2012
flyman says...
@olepete - thanks for the update on the stats. If the wobblies dont win the battle upfront, they will lose the game. If they secure their own ball and manage a pilfer ot two & get the backs away, they will win.
Posted 22:37 13th September 2012
Houston_11 says...
Agree with Trinats2 as well - as long as the pack front up and match the Argentina pack, they're going to dump on their backs. A big fan of Shipperley as well so would like to see him get a try!
Posted 19:50 13th September 2012
olepete says...
Flyman, the stats from the Sydney MH make ckear that, however it appeared to a spectator on the day, the AB pack was well ahead; eg 5 lineout steals to 1, 1 tighthead to nil, twice as many rucks and mauls etc.
Posted 13:46 13th September 2012
Flyman says...
The Boks were mauled by the Argies pack who more than held their own against the ABs. You can't play if you don't have the ball.
Posted 12:26 13th September 2012
olepete says...
I'm probably the only person on earth to say this, but I am somewhat in agreement with Trinats2.
Posted 11:43 13th September 2012
Mace says...
Thats wishful thinking of you trinats2. Looks like another wallabies loss hahaha
Posted 10:05 13th September 2012
Kiwikev says...
I expect this to be a good game. Oz has some confidence and the Argies, despite their best play, have only managed a loss to the AB and draw with SA....
Posted 09:56 13th September 2012
Trinats2 says...
Funny enough, from Deans game plan (sit back in pocket) Nick Phipps passing will suit Cooper better than the flat game Geina and Cooper are use to. Expect to see the ball get out to the wings a lot faster. Ioane to break his drought and shipperley for his maiden test try or two !!.
Posted 08:47 13th September 2012