Australia v Argentina - teams and prediction
ROUND FOUR PREVIEW: The Wallabies gold is suddenly cool again, and skipper Harry Wilson doesn’t want his team’s resurgence to be a flash-in-the-pan phenomenon.
They have a solid chance of ending their 10-year Rugby Championship drought after starting their campaign with a 2-1 record, but it’s been a long and winding journey to get there.
Jonny Wilkinson’s match-winning drop goal for England in the 2003 World Cup final proved to be the beginning of a two-decade decline for Australian rugby.
Coaches such as Eddie Jones, John Connolly, Robbie Deans, Ewen McKenzie, Michael Cheika and Dave Rennie came and went, and the Wallabies hit rock bottom when Jones’ second coming resulted in the team bombing out at the 2023 World Cup group stage.
Dwindling crowd numbers mirrored the team’s flagging on-field performances, but the arrival of Joe Schmidt in January 2024 has changed everything.
Schmidt has transformed the Wallabies back into a powerhouse rugby outfit, and the team have won back the hearts of fans in the process.
Australia were plucky in their 2-1 series defeat to the British and Irish Lions – a series that could have gone the hosts’ way if not for a questionable late call in the second Test.
Momentum gathered steam last month when the Wallabies overcame a 0-22 deficit to beat defending world champions South Africa 38-22 to snap a 62-year hoodoo at Ellis Park.
The Wallabies’ return to home soil last week sparked pandemonium when replacement prop Angus Bell scored the winning try in the 86th minute to lift his side to a 28-24 win over Argentina in Townsville.
Such is the excitement, Saturday’s rematch against the Pumas in Sydney is sold out, with more than 40,000 fans set to descend on the Sydney Football Ground.
But with great power comes great responsibility, and Wilson knows the Wallabies must maintain their good form in order to keep themselves in the hearts of Australian rugby fans.
The preview continues below…
“We want to see rugby being talked about the way I believe it should be talked about, and it is at the moment,” Wilson said.
“It’s super exciting as a player, as a playing group, that everyone’s getting behind us and everyone’s seeing the work we’re putting in.
“But we need to hold onto it. If we have a couple of good weeks and then go back, the support may disappear.”
Wilson credited Wallabies fans for helping them get over the line against Argentina last week.
The Wallabies trailed 7-21 at half-time, and on three occasions after the full-time siren, they turned down the chance to kick a match-tying penalty in order to go for the win.
“When you’re seeing gold jerseys everywhere in sold-out stadiums, it is really special,” Wilson said.
“On the weekend, I truly believe that support at the end of the game, how loud they were cheering for us, probably was one of the differences.”
The Wallabies are well aware Argentina will be out for revenge.
Just last year, Argentina bounced back from a 19-20 home loss to Australia to pummel the Wallabies 67-27 a week later.
“We do know what’s coming; we experienced it first-hand last year, and it wasn’t nice at all,” Wilson said.
“We were down for 84 minutes on the weekend and only just got the win, so we know how much of a class team they are, and them fired up is a scary proposition for us.”
Tane Edmed has earned his first start for the Wallabies, named at flyhalf in place of the injured Tom Lynagh (hamstring), while inside centre Hunter Paisami replaces Len Ikitau (knee laceration).
Players to watch
For Australia: Playmaker Tane Edmed will make his starting debut, thrust into the cauldron ahead of veteran flyhalf James O’Connor as the replacement for Tom Lynagh, who has a hamstring injury. Centre Hunter Paisami will play his first Test of the year, in for Len Ikitau, who has a knee gash, and will partner last week’s two-try hero Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. James Slipper returns for his 149th Test after missing the past two with a concussion, while Jeremy Williams is recalled to the starting second row alongside Tom Hooper, with Nick Frost rested, while Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and skipper Harry Wilson continue in an unchanged back row.
For Argentina: Argentina need a win to keep their title hopes alive and made three changes with Joaquin Oviedo elevated to the starting pack at the expense of flank Pablo Matera. The latter will play off the bench, and he could make a huge impact in the second half when there are some tired legs. In the second row, Guido Petti replaces Franco Molina. Rodrigo Isgro rounds out the starting changes, in for Townsville try-scoring wing Bautista Delguy. Last weekend, flyhalf Santiago Carreras dominated proceedings with ball in hand, especially in the first half, and the Pumas will want more of the same in Sydney.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Australia by three points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Tane Edmed, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo García, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Justo Piccardo, 23 Ignacio Mendy.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Venue: Sydney Football Ground, Sydney
Kick-off: 14.00 (04.00 GMT; 01.00 ART)
Expected weather: It will be sunny and breezy with a high of around 20°C.
Referee: Christophe Ridley (England)
Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Sam Grove-White (Scotland)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
AAP, AFP & Rugby365
