Argentina v Australia - teams and prediction

PREVIEW: It is a basement clash in the fourth round of the Rugby Championship but Australia and Argentina have not lived up to expectations and will look to deliver a much more slick performance than they have up to now.

The Wallabies managed to clinch a last-gasp victory through the boot of Ben Donaldson last weekend but they remain at the bottom of the table with four points, one behind Los Pumas.

Both sides will be aware that they cannot catch the frontrunners, the Springboks, but they will be eager to finish the competition as runners-up

The Los Pumas’ Agustin Creevy did not have the swansong exit from international rugby that he would have hoped for, but several impressive spells in the first half will give them confidence in their chances of getting the job done this week.

Joe Schmidt’s side were by far the better side from set-pieces and dominated the aerial battle in the driving rain, supporting the kicking strategy of Donaldson, which will be a key again this weekend.

Schmidt said it was another opportunity for Donaldson, who wore the World Cup No. 10 jersey, to prove himself while youngster Tom Lynagh has been included on the bench.

“We’re still trying to build our way forward and I think it’s a great opportunity for Ben Donaldson,” Schmidt said from Sante Fe on Friday morning.

“He was the incumbent, really, from the World Cup, and it’s a great opportunity for Tom Lynagh after having a hamstring niggle that he was struggling to get rid of.

“He’s now 100 percent and so those two, they’re excited to take on the mantle.”

As he did in Florence almost two years ago, Donaldson entered the game in La Plata in the final minutes and was called upon for a crucial play, with a penalty kick on the buzzer.

With this shot much easier than in the Italy game, the 25-year-old playmaker made no mistake to steer Australia to a 20-19 victory, which was their first in the four-team tournament.

Donaldson said he welcomed another opportunity to be a match-winner and didn’t give his wayward kick against the Italians a thought.

“I didn’t go back to the Italy game,” Donaldson said.

“There’s always pressure in those moments, they’re big moments in Test match footy, but as a player, as a kicker, you thrive for those moments, they’re the moments you want.

“I’ve said to people before, I’m probably lucky that I went through that moment in Italy, I think it’s made me grow as a player and as a person.

“We do a lot of work throughout the week, put ourselves in moments as kickers, so when we come to the game, we’re ready for it.”

The past two Wallabies Tests have been played in heavy rain but the forecast for the afternoon Sante Fe match is 28 degrees and sunshine.

Grinding until the end 💪

Recap Sunday’s late victory in La Plata 👏#Wallabies #TRC2024 pic.twitter.com/uO6SPFpFzb

— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 4, 2024

Schmidt said he’d take any win he could get.

“It was eight degrees last Saturday so it’s a 20-degree swing, and hopefully the result doesn’t swing,” Schmidt said.

“We’ll just keep trying to stack good elements of performance together, and hopefully that’s enough to get us the result.

“We’ll take a result in the last minute by one point any time that’s on offer.

“I’m not sure my heart will sustain those, but certainly it was a real fillip for us last week to get the result.

Last weekend the Los Pumas scored the first 10 points of the game and Juan Martin Gonzalez was their try scorer in the first half. It was 13-7 to the hosts by half time but the Wallabies stayed in the game and after the lead changed hands a couple of times a penalty on the hooter won it for Australia.

Argentina had started their tournament by taking on the All Blacks twice in New Zealand. They were underdogs for the opening match in Wellington but sprang a big surprise in coming out on top 38-30.

The second clash in Auckland was a totally different story with the All Blacks racing into a 35-3 halftime lead and in wet conditions, the scoring eased up with the final score being 42-10.

Up there with the greats 🙏

James Slipper is set to equal George Gregan’s all-time appearance record this Sunday 📚#Wallabies pic.twitter.com/7y4oLlqoYV

— Wallabies (@wallabies) September 6, 2024

Players to watch

For Argentina: The tried and tested loose trio of Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, and Pablo Matera have come through with flying colours and they will once again play a huge role. The new halfback partnership of Gonzalo Bertranou and Tomas Albornoz will be thoroughly tested but out back the experienced Juan Cruz Mallia and brilliant Mateo Carreras will keep things calm.

For Australia: The veteran James Slipper, in to replace star man Angus Bell, who starts at tighthead with Taniela Tupou and hooker Matt Faessler, needs no introduction and his experience will be vital. The dynamic Len Ikitau pairs up with Hamish Stewart at centre and they are solid. Young sensation Max Jorgensen gets his first start on the right wing with Marika Kooibete and Andrew Kellaway completing the back three. All eyes will be on Donaldson after his heroic match-winning kick last weekend.

Prediction:
@rugby365com: Australia by 10 points

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 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montyoa (captain), 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

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 (captain), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valentini, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacement: 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, September 7
Venue: Brigadier Estanisiao Lopez Stadium, Santa Fe
Kick-off: 16.00 (21.00, 19.00 GMT, 05.00 AEST Sunday, 8 September)
Referee: Pierre Brousset
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe, James Doleman
TMO: Marius Jonker

Additional source @AAP