Argentina v Australia preview: Los Pumas to ‘bite back’ and ‘muscle past’ Wallabies
Our preview of the Rugby Championshioip clash between Argentina and Australia.
Another week and another intriguing Test awaiting fans in the Rugby Championship as Argentina hosts Australia in Santa Fe on Saturday.
The teams come off a very tight clash in round three where the Wallabies only just claimed a 19-20 win with a penalty right at the end in a wet La Plata.
Argentina certainly will feel it is a win that got away after an assured performance for the most part where they kicked well out of hand and played the conditions relatively well. Ultimately, it was the never-say-die attitude of the Wallabies that forced a late momentum swing through some soft Los Pumas penalties in the back of the game that determined the result.
Joe Schmidt will be delighted to have gotten off the mark in the Rugby Championship but he is wise enough to know that the victory will mean little if it is not backed up this weekend.
Los Pumas boss Felipe Contepomi would have been frustrated that his side could not close out the game but he will at least have some positives to work with, in particular the kicking game of Argentina.
This weekend’s Test will be vastly different as weather conditions in Santa Fe look optimal for rugby which will hopefully result in a less error-ridden clash loaded with more running than the La Plata matchup.
The crowd and players alike will be pumped for this one as the hosts look to get back on track while the Wallabies will be desperate to underline the fact that they are ever-improving with another victory.
Where the game will be won
Many of the stats from last weekend’s Test ended up very even with possession at 50% a piece, territory almost level with Australia edging it on 52% to the number of carries where Argentina made one more than their opponents with 113.
However, there were a few gaps, notably, turnovers won where Australia’s six drowned the one of Argentina. Part of this could be owed to the conditions but the other bit is down to the hard-working Wallabies back-row and Carlo Tizzano in particular who dominated the breakdown in between his 22 tackles. Los Pumas failed to make an impression in this area and that will need to change this weekend with the likes of Julian Montoya and Pablo Matera needing to come into the game more.
The scrum is another area where the Argentines must improve after the Wallabies got some decent traction in this facet last time out. Thomas Gallo in particular had a tough outing and if the hosts are to win they need to ramp it up in the set-piece.
The final focal point is discipline which was a key factor in Argentina handing the game to Australia in the last quarter. Contepomi will be eager to rid the team of this issue as better discipline may have resulted in a win.
Both sides have sensational runners in their backlines so the result could boil down to who ticks the above boxes the best.
Last time they met
What they said
Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt is expecting an even tougher match this weekend against Argentina in Santa Fe.
“As happened with the Pumas and the All Blacks (in the first two games), at the very top level, the margins are fine, and that can swing very quickly.
“Even within a game, we saw earlier today, a ten-point margin with ten to go wasn’t enough if a team really finishes over the top.
“I have massive respect for Felipe Contepomi. I have no doubt that they’ll create problems for us next week.”
Players to watch
Pablo Matera got through a heap of work in the carry last time out but will be slightly disappointed with his breakdown contributions as would Julian Montoya and Juan Martin Gonzalez all of whom will be critical against this week. Argentina always plays better when their back-row fires and the Los Pumas stars need to get it right this weekend in more favourable conditions.
It is a pull your socks up week for Thomas Gallo who struggled in the scrums and made a crucial error dropping the ball on the line last time out. He is a quality loosehead and one of the best in the world in open play but he has to nail the fundamentals- a big game for the Argentine. The same could be said for big Joel Sclavi who also had a tough time in the set-piece.
Last in our players to watch for Argentina is Mateo Carreras, the hot-stepping superstar who can make something happen from nothing. He will be pleased with the weather forecast and fans can expect the wing to have a say in this one if he is given space to work with.
It would be criminal to do a preview for a Wallabies match without mentioning Rob Valetini who has become one the most consistent players in the world. He always makes a boatload of carry and often matches that with his tackles. A player like him is golddust for any coach and expect the same again for the Australian.
His back-row partner Carlo Tizzano has grabbed his chance with both hands as a classic style openside who plays towards the ball. His tackle count and breakdown influence was massive in the win last weekend and he will empty the tank once again. Schmidt will have a headache in this position when Fraser McReight returns but for now, it’s Tizzano time.
Another key performer from last week was Len Ikitau. The centre offers such dynamism with ball in hand which complements the ball-playing Hamish Stewart so well in the midfield. Ikitau made some critical contributions in big moments to help his side to a victory. He will be desperate to replicate that again this weekend.
Main head-to-head
This week’s battle is between the two generals as Tomas Albornoz faces up to Ben Donaldson in the all-important fly-half role.
It’s rather intriguing that the two head coaches have made the alternations at ten with Noah Lolesio ruled out through injury while Santiago Carreras was unable to finish off the game last week but Albornoz made a telling impact off the bench despite the torrid conditions.
Albornoz has been biding his time behind seasoned fly-half Carreras who has developed his tactical kicking game over the years. The new pivot has impressed for Benetton for several seasons now and he will eager to make the most of his chance knowing that Carreras is on the bench ready to make an impact.
For the Wallabies Donaldson is promoted and many may feel he is unlucky not to have been given more of a chance after he shone at the World Cup. The Western Force man offers a much better kicking game than Lolesio and a lower error-rate which is exactly what this Wallabies side needs from their pivot. There is no better time than the present for Donaldson to stand up and take the 10 shirt for himself.
Prediction
After failing to send Pumas legend Agustin Creevy out on a high last time out, Argentina will be hellbent on righting the wrongs of last week and Contepomi has made the necessary alternations to his team to bounce back in style. It’s also a notable game for skipper Montoya who notches up his 100th cap for his country and past experiences tells us that he is due a mighty and passionate performance. As mentioned above, the Pumas scrum has been a real concern but if they manage to get parity there, it is bound to be yet another tight encounter. Argentina always play with passion and a defeat last week would not have sat well with the fans and the players know that. Expect a fired-up and angry Pumas team to throw everything they have at the Wallabies and despite Australia showing real growth and maturity in their performance last week, it is bound to be another close call but as we saw in July – against France – and earlier this Rugby Championship, when the Pumas are on song, they can beat anyone. We expected Argentina to be on that level this week and bite back by muscling past Australia clinching a seven-point victory, and keep the Wallabies on the foot of the table.
Previous results
2024: Australia won 19-20 in La Plata
2023: Argentina won 31-34 in Parramatta
2022: Argentina won 48-17 in San Juan
2022: Australia won 41-26 in Mendoza
2021: Australia won 32-17 on the Gold Coast
2021: Australia won 27-8 in Townsville
2020: Australia and Argentina drew 16-16 in Sydney
2020: Australia and Argentina drew 15-15 in Newcastle
2019: Australia won 16-10 in Brisbane
2018: Australia won 45-34 in Salta
2018: Argentina won 23-19 on the Gold Coast
The teams
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Gudio Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Joaquin Oviedo, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Gonzalo Garcia, 23 Santiago Carreras
Date: Saturday, 7 September
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 James Slipper, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Josh Canham, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Tom Lynagh, 23 Josh Flook
Date: Saturday, 7 September
Venue: Brigadier Estanislao Lopez Stadium, Santa Fe
Local kick-off: 16:00
GMT kick-off: 19:00
NZL kick-off: 7:00 (Sunday, 8 September)
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 5:00 (Sunday, 8 September)
RSA kick-off: 21:00
ARG kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Estadio Brigadier Estanislao Lopez, Santa Fé
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), James Doleman (NZR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
