Argentina v Australia preview: Los Pumas to edge wobbly Wallabies in Agustin Creevy’s last hurrah
We preview the intriguing Test between Argentina and Australia in Buenos Aires.
It’s the basement battle in the Rugby Championship as Australia head to Buenos Aires in search of victory against a fierce Argentina outfit.
Both sides started new eras in 2024 with legendary former fly-half Felipe Contepomi taking over the Los Pumas hot seat while respected rugby mind Joe Schmidt took on the daunting role of picking up Eddie Jones’ pieces at the Wallabies.
For this week’s hosts, Argentina, that began with a mixed-bag Test series against France in the mid-year before the South Americans travelled to New Zealand and claimed an almighty victory against the All Blacks in Wellington. They may have been blown out of the water in Round Two but the side has a foothold to work with.
Schmidt has had a much tougher task to navigate and has done rather well with the resources available. The side beat Wales twice in the mid-year before getting one over Georgia. However, the joy was short-lived as the Wallabies were shown their level after being taken apart by the Springboks in both Tests.
It sets up fantastically for the farewell of arguably Argentina’s greatest player in history Agustin Creevy who will play his last Test for Los Pumas. The legendary hooker holds the record for the most caps for Argentina (109), most Rugby World Cup caps (22) and most Test as captain of his country with 51.
Creevy had already hung up his Test boots before being called on by former team-mate and now coach, Contepomi, to help out with a hooker crisis where he made a powerful return and scored the decisive try in the win over New Zealand.
Argentina will know this is as good a time as any to secure third place in the championship with two good performances against the Wallabies starting on Saturday. Schmidt will be wise to this and will hope his developing side can stand up to the challenge.
Where the game will be won
It seems typical to say up front but in the Test arena winning the forward battle is critical to success and this time it is no different. Argentina boasts a powerful pack that is really good at dominating the gain line with those bruising carriers running hard around the corner off their super fast ruck ball. This area in particular is very important to win for the hosts as it will go a long way in helping their cause.
The second facet of the forward battle is the set-piece and scrum in particular where Argentina may not be as strong as they once were, while Australia seem to still be trying to field their best front-row with injury and personal matters playing a role in selection.
But at last that changes with Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell starting for Australia. If they can cause concerns for the hosts in this area it could lay the platform for the backline to show their worth.
Last time they met
What they said
Returning Wallabies prop Bell shared how his foot has been resized to get back in the game and revealed how his lucky to still be playing.
“It was almost a foot reconstruction, remodelling my foot which was good,” he explained.
“It’s giving me fewer problems and it’s a lot more comfortable. Ben Forster in Queensland did my surgery and he’s been really good and open so I talk to him frequently.
“The injury is starting to become more common just because there’s so much pressure and how low the scrums are nowadays. It’s kind of a new surgery because one of the coaches, Dan Palmer, did it and he didn’t have that option so I’m just lucky that medicines are a bit more advanced.”
Players to watch
Back-rowers Juan Martin Gonzalez and Marcos Kremer are essential to the Argentine cause with their hard work and physicality especially important. The number eight, Gonzalez, brings additional dynamism to the loose trio with his running game while Kremer is brutal with the ball in hand. Like it was in their famous win against New Zealand the back-row needs to be on the money for this one.
Santiago Carreras had a good time with the boot against New Zealand in Test I but was less effective in Test II and he will be hoping he gets better ball to work with at home. He is one of the players who should grow the most under Contepomi’s guidance. Expect the 10 to be at the centre of the Los Pumas charge.
Perhaps only the Toulouse and Los Pumas faithful really rate superstar centre Santiago Chococbares fairly as the powerful midfielder is frankly one of the best in the business. He has an astonishing work rate on defence and is just as brilliant with ball in hand. When he is on song, so is the rest of the Argentine backline, he is their glue that keeps the backs together on both sides of the ball with his high rugby IQ. He is a really a fantastic talent.
For one final time, Agustin Creevy will don the iconic blue and white hoops of the Argentina jersey as he earns his 110th Test cap. A name synonymous with Los Pumas, there is no doubt that the 39-year-old is an all-time great of Argentina rugby and deservedly gets his moment in the spotlight. He hangs up his boots as a fan favourite from teams that he represented around the world and is loved even by opposition fans. He also bows out with three records as the most capped Puma, the player to represent Argentina in the most World Cup matches and the man who has captained his side the most.
It’s been a long time coming for Hamish Stewart as the Western Force playmaker finally makes his Test debut after earning his first call-up to the squad under Michael Cheika in 2018. Since then Australia have had two coaches take over the hot seat, with Stewart failing to earn his first cap despite earning multiple call-ups. The 26-year-old has played well over 100 Super Rugby matches for the Reds and Force and brings a different dimension to the Wallabies midfield compared to the injured Hunter Paisami with a playmaking prowess of a fly-half.
The Wallabies have been dealt a mighty boost in their pursuit of a maiden win in the Rugby Championship this year with powerhouse Taniela Tupou returning from bereavement leave. A titan with ball in hand, Tupou is probably the Wallabies’ best scrummaging tighthead too and with Thomas Gallo struggling in that department, Australia will fancy their chances with their own wrecking ball back in the starting front row.
As mentioned above, the set-pieces will be crucial on Saturday in deciding the outcome of the match and much like Tupou’s return, Nick Frost is a massive boost for Australia. The Wallabies’ lineout wobbled somewhat without the athletic second-rower, he will be pivotal to securing his team’s ball at the set-piece and pressurising the Pumas’ ball. That’s not his only strength as he is one of the quickest locks in the international game and has the engine to match.
Main head-to-head
This weekend serves up one of the better head-to-heads across the Rugby Championship where two hardmen face off in the form of Pablo Matera and Rob Valetini.
Matera is a legend of the game and surely one of the hardest players around. This is shown in his aggressive carry style, bruising defence and rugged breakdown work. The back-row is a passionate figure and no doubt he will be absolutely pumped in front of his home fans. This one is set up perfectly for Matera.
Opposing him is the most consistent Australian by a long way and probably the first name on the teamsheet in Rob Valetini. The hulking loose forward will always give his team a high number of carries and tackles as the battering ram in chief. There is no hiding from the fact that he leads the physicality of the Wallabies which is a necessity for anything close to winning.
Prediction
The Wallabies head into a cauldron that is Buenos Aires which will be loaded with an extra layer of passion as they prepare to say goodbye to one of their greatest and while the team will learn a lot from the experience it certainly plays into the hosts’ hands. This is one for Argentina to lose and having fallen well short last time out Los Pumas will be eager to get it right this time around. They will do just that, Argentina by eight points.
Previous results
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 Santiago Cordero, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Joaquin Oviedo, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Tomas Albornoz
Wallabies: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen
Date: Saturday, 31 August
Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, Buenos Aires
Local kick-off: 19:00
BST kick-off: 23:00
GMT kick-off: 22:00
NZL kick-off: 10:00 (Sunday, 1 September)
AUS (AEST) kick-off: 08:00 (Sunday, 1 September)
RSA kick-off: 00:00 (Sunday, 1 September)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR), Pierre Brousset (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
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