Preview: Argentina v Australia
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Australia do not want a repeat of last year's trip to Mendoza when they clash with Argentina on Saturday at the same venue in Round 2 of the Rugby Championship.
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The Wallabies will instead hope to build on the momentum created by a dramatic triumph over South Africa when a try by centre Tevita Kuridrani after the siren signaling full-time sounded earned the Wallabies a 24-20 win against the Springboks in Brisbane last Saturday.
Victory for an Australian side that trailed by 13 points during the second-half came a day after title-holders New Zealand overcame Argentina 39-18 in Christchurch in the other first-round game.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes – three forced by injuries – for the match at the 40,000-seat Estadio Malvinas.
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Injured centre Matt Giteau, wing Rob Horne and scrumhalf Will Genia are replaced by Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane and Nick Phipps respectively.
An additional backline change sees Bernard Foley recalled to the starting line-up at flyhalf in place of Quade Cooper.
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In the pack, a good showing by tighthead prop Greg Holmes when he came on as a replacement against South Africa earns him a start with Sekope Kepu dropping to the bench.
David Pocock takes over from fellow flank Michael Hooper and Ben McCalman has been picked at No.8 ahead of Scott Higginbotham.
Apart from the injury-induced changes, some are rotational and others form related with Higginbotham failing to replicate last weekend with his many outstanding Super Rugby displays.
"We are fortunate with the level of depth in the squad," said Cheika, who steered the Waratahs to the 2014 Super Rugby title.
"All those promoted to the starting line-up against the Pumas are there on merit and have opportunities to build on what we achieved last weekend.
"We have fine playmakers in Bernard [Foley]) and Quade [Cooper] and both can make an enormous impact."
Cooper is among the eight replacements. Another substitute, utility back Kurtley Beale, will win his 50th cap if he comes on.
Cheika believes it will take a 23-man effort to avenge a 17-21 loss to Argentina last season in Mendoza after the visitors built an early 14-point advantage.
"Argentina will provide a physical challenge and our reserves have significant roles to play.
"The bench got us home against the Springboks last weekend and I will be looking for an even greater impact from our replacements this Saturday," stressed Cheika.
Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade has also made seven changes after a mixed outing against world champions New Zealand.
He will have been encouraged by the pack power that created two driving-maul tries for hooker and skipper Agustin Creevy, but leading 2014 Rugby Championship points scorer Nicolas Sanchez flopped at flyhalf.
Sanchez gets a chance to redeem himself against Australia and Santiago Cordero, switched from left wing to fullback, is the only other back to survive.
Out go injured fullback Joaquin Tuculet, right wing Horacio Agulla, centres Marcelo Bosch and Jeronimo de la Fuente, and scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli.
And in come wings Gonzalo Camacho and Juan Imhoff, centres Matias Moroni and Juan Pablo Socino and scrumhalf Martin Landajo. Forward changes see lock Tomas Lavanini and flank Javier Ortega Desio replace Guido Petti Pagadizabal and Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
Australia and Argentina have met 23 times since 1979 with the Wallabies winning 17 and the Pumas five. The biggest victory by the Pumas was 18-3 in 1983 at Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane
Tradition is against the Pumas as they have not achieved successive victories against the Wallabies since their first meeting 36 years ago.
Players to watch:
For Australia: Forget the Aussie tight-five, look no further than the ball-poacher David Pocock who will be vital at the breakdown. The halfback combination of Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps will hope to reproduce their Super Rugby form and outplay the sidelined Reds halfback duo. The highly rated Matt Toomua brings pace, power and skill to the backline, beefing up the midfield. You can never overlook Israel Folau and he will capitalise on any miss-directed kicks with his powerful running game.
For Argentina: Augustin Creevy will want to replicate what he did last week with hard running and hopefully a couple of five-pointers. Javier Ortega Desio certainly made an impact from the bench last week and he must be abrasive from the get-go this time, as should looseforward partner Facunda Isa who is yet to live up to his European name on the international scene. Skilful flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez will definitely want to right the wrongs from his dismal display against the All Blacks and produce a performance we all know he is capable of. Keep your eyes on the gasman Juan Imhoff – the Racing Metro wing should spark some much needed pace into the Pumas offense. 
Head to head: A mouth-watering battle will be in the engine room – the highly rated Argentine tight-five up against the renowned weak Wallaby tight-five. Agustin Creevy and his props will definitely want to expose any cracks in that Wallaby front row. The ruck battle will be key where Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Javier Ortega Desio will both have their work cut out to handle just one individual – David Pocock. Two live-wire scrumhalves will battle it out and hope to provide crisp service to their flyhalves where the spotlight will be on Nicolas Sanchez and Bernard Foley – similar players that possess a wealth of skill and are astute distributors. Previous results:
2014: Argentina won 21-17, Mendoza
2014: Australia won 32-25, Gold Coast
2013: Australia won 54-17, Rosario
2013: Australia won 14-13, Perth
2012: Australia won 25-19, Rosario
2012: Australia won 23-19, Gold Coast
2003: Australia won 24-8, Sydney
2002: Australia won 17-6, Buenos Aires
2000: Australia won 32-25, Canberra
2000: Australia won 53-6, Brisbane
1997: Argentina won 18-16, Buenos Aires
Prediction: Argentina ended their Rugby Championship hoodoo with a victory over Australia in the final round of the 2014 edition, prior to that they had lost nine in a row against the Wallabies. Five of the six meetings between these nations in this tournament have been settled by losing bonus point margins. Both sides have scored at least one try in each of their meetings in this tournament. Australia has played eight Tests (won two lost six) since they last managed consecutive victories. Australia beat the most defenders (26) last weekend, while Argentina beat the fewest (9). Australia conceded a round-high 18 turnovers last weekend, while Argentina made the fewest errors (10). Australia won all six of their scrums last weekend, while Argentina won just 75 percent of theirs, a Round 1 low. Both nations scored two tries from possessions that started with line-outs last weekend, while Australia’s other try started with a scrum. Adam Ashley-Cooper’s try last week was the first time in five Tests that the Wallabies have opened the try-scoring in a match. Australia will continue to ride their high and win a close encounter in a hostile environment by five points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Will Skelton, 3 Greg Holmes, 2 Stephen Moore (captain), 1 James Slipper.
Reserves: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Michael Hooper, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Matias Diaz, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Date: Saturday, July 25
Venue: Estadio Malvinas, Mendoza
Kick-off: 19.40 (08.40 Sunday, Australian time; 22.40 GMT)
Expected Weather: Clear skies and a mild 19 degrees celcius – perfect conditions.
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Chris Pollock (New Zealand), Stuart Berry (South Africa)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Compiled by Andrew Duncan
@andrewslamdunc
@rugby365com & AFP
