Wallabies could hit new low in Salta
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP: The Wallabies will be out to avoid the Rugby Championship wooden spoon when they face Argentina in Salta on Saturday.
Since the Rugby Championship began in 2012, the Wallabies have never finished bottom of the standings, but that could become a reality now for Michael Cheika’s side.
The Wallabies only have one win from their five games so far and they sit with five points, three adrift of the third-placed Argentinians.
Australia’s latest defeat was a 12-23 loss to the Springboks in Port Elizabeth on Saturday and they already tasted defeat at the hands of Los Pumas this year, going down 19-23 in Round Four on the Gold Coast.
“All the wins are important and that’s our focus now,” Wallabies star flank David Pocock told reporters ahead of the team’s trip to Argentina.
“There is no time for moping.
“You have to cop it on the chin and review starts tomorrow [Monday] on the flight.”
Pocock believes revenge against Argentina will not be the motivating factor for the Wallabies this week.
“You don’t need anything to motivate you,” he said.
“You’re playing for the Wallabies and that’s incredibly… it’s a huge privilege.
“Every time you pull on that jumper you are representing your country and all the people who helped get you there.”
One area of great concern for the Wallabies this year is their execution in the strike zone. They enjoyed 79 percent territory and 68 percent possession in the second half against the Springboks in Port Elizabeth, but they failed to score a single point.
“We just couldn’t capitalise on the pressure we had down their end,” Pocock said.
“We will keep working on that.
“I thought some of the phase play was good and we were getting them under pressure.
“We just weren’t taking our opportunities.”
Meanwhile, wing Jack Maddocks has been ruled out of the test against Argentina.
Maddocks broke a finger in training ahead of the match in Port Elizabeth and played through the pain on Saturday.
However, he seemed to cause further damage to the injured finger while on the field and he lasted just 27 minutes.
Source: rugby.com.au
