Argentina v Australia - Teams and Prediction

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP, ROUND THREE: The match between Argentina and Australia in La Plata is set to be a hometown farewell for the Pumas’ most capped international Agustin Creevy.

With 109 caps, the 39-year-old hooker is the only Argentine to play at four World Cups and also captained the team a record 51 times.

Creevy informed the Los Pumas squad of his plans this week as he brings the curtain down on a 19-year international career.

“I am leaving after giving it my all,” Creevy told ESPN.

“I have played to the utmost, and it is time to step aside because it is best for the team, and like I always say, the team comes first.

“I have many mixed feelings. Of sadness, of joy and, above all, of immense pride for having worn this shirt for a long time.

“All the decisions and actions I made, everything I went through was to wear the Los Pumas shirt that I love so much.”

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Deposits in the bank 🔋 #Wallabies pic.twitter.com/5DeA9Br4P7

— Wallabies (@wallabies) August 29, 2024

Wallaby head coach Joe Schmidt said Los Pumas presented a formidable challenge and even more so after Creevy’s announcement.

“Expectations are going to be high and the pressure is going to be just as high, particularly in terms of Agustin Creevy’s potentially last game,” Schmidt said.

“I’ve coached against him for probably nine or 10 years and he is just such a difficult, combative opponent who fights for everything, so we have a lot of respect.

“Having brought a few different teams here to Argentina, they’re very much emotionally connected as a group and to the support that they can get in the arena.”

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Meanwhile, a year ago Harry Wilson wasn’t even on the Wallabies’ radar but the bullocking No.8 will now captain Australia.

Wilson was overlooked by World Cup coach Eddie Jones and had also fallen out of favour with previous mentor Dave Rennie, but current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said the 24-year-old was a popular choice to become his fourth skipper of the year.

Schmidt made five changes to the starting line-up for their match at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata on Saturday, including inside centre Hamish Stewart, the 15th debutant of the year.

Jake Gordon has regained the No.9 jersey after recovering from a head knock, with Tate McDermott again coming off the bench, linking with Noah Lolesio in the halves.

Prop Taniela Tupou will also start after missing the matches against the Springboks following the death of his father, while Nick Frost has also returned after a concussion to partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row.

Wilson took over the captaincy duties following injury to Allan Alaalatoa during their Perth loss to South Africa, with the latter named on the bench.

Schmidt said he liked that Wilson, from Gunnedah in country NSW and plays for Queensland, led with his actions.

“Harry’s been really good for us and I think he’s led himself really well,” Schmidt said on Friday from Argentina.

“He has a natural propensity to express himself well, but with very few words, and I don’t think that we want to be doing too much talking, it’s about the actions that he’s going to deliver and lead from the front effectively.

“We’re pretty happy with the selection amongst the coaching group and even talking to some of the players about who would be best to step up, there was a lot of confidence around Harry.”

Young teammate Isaac Kailea said Wilson, the 90th Test captain, wore the jersey with passion.

“He plays with such passion and it’s pretty infectious as a younger player,” said the 24-year-old loosehead.

“You see a guy with so much want to play as well as he can, you just want to play for him as well.”

Stewart, 26, replaces Hunter Paisami, who suffered a knee injury against the Springboks, with Schmidt describing the Western Force midfielder as a “massive team man”.

The Wallabies, who split their results on their last visit to Argentina in 2022 and lost to the Pumas in Sydney last year, are desperate for a win after two heavy defeats on home turf against South Africa.

Argentina shocked fellow World Cup semifinalists New Zealand in their opening Rugby Championship match before falling in their second in Auckland.

Players to watch

For Argentina: Veteran hooker Agustin Creevy will playing off the bench, but he will have the biggest spotlight on him as it will be his last for Argentina. Flyhalf Santiago Carreras will be hoping to rediscover the form that spearheaded Los Pumas’ win in Wellington earlier this month. Pablo Matera can be a nuisance at the breakdowns for opposition teams and the Wallabies will experience it on Saturday. Captain and hooker Julian Montoya always leads from the front and he will need to do it again if his team want the log points.

For Australia: Harry Wilson, who made his debut in 2020, becomes the 90th captain of the Wallabies, taking over from prop Allan Alaalatoa, who drops to the bench. After missing the back-to-back defeats to South Africa, Taniela Tupou returns to the front row at tighthead prop for Alaalatoa. Lock Nick Frost takes the place of Angus Blyth alongside Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row. Scrumhalf Jake Gordon takes over from Nic White to partner Noah Lolesio at halfback. Uncapped Queensland Reds centre Hamish Stewart replaces Hunter Paisami alongside Len Ikitau in midfield.

Prediction

@rugby365com: Argentina by nine points.

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 (captain),1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Tomas Albornoz.

Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hamish Stewart, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson, 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, August 31
Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata
Kick-off: 19.00 (22.00 GMT; 08.00 AEST Sunday, September 1)
Expected weather: There will be rain with a moderate breeze and a temperature around 10°C.
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

AAP, ESPN, AFP & @rugby365com