Wallabies ready for Los Pumas 'bruisers'
Liam Wright says Lachie Swinton’s all-or-nothing approach is the blueprint for whoever wears the Wallabies No.6 jersey in Saturday’s Tri-Nations clash with Argentina in Newcastle.
The Pumas back row, led by inspirational skipper Pablo Matera, kept the All Blacks back-peddling during their shock 25-15 win at the weekend.
With hooker Julian Montoya also chiming as a pseudo back row forward and their tight five dominating tackles, New Zealand struggled for momentum.
Queensland captain Wright predicted more of the same from the Pumas in their McDonald Jones Stadium match.
“For us to get quick breakdown ball we will have to target their back-row definitely and make sure we win that contact battle for the carry otherwise it’s going to be a long day,” Wright said on Monday.
“They are going to slow up our ball and it’s hard to get go-forward.
“Their back row is quite a big row, they’ve got some bruising tacklers and they were good over the ball so it’s going to make for an interesting match up but I think our boys are ready for it.”
Making his Test debut in Brisbane against the All Blacks, Swinton only lasted 35 minutes before he was red-carded for a high tackle and is suspended for the remainder of the tournament.
But Wright said his physicality and aggression, minus the red card, was what coach Dave Rennie wanted to see.
“What Dave is looking for at No.6 is a lot of physicality and impact on the game.
“We’re looking for guys to come in like Swins [Swinton] did and just fly in and rip in.
“I thought he was really good, until that card, and put in a lot of effort and had a lot of dominant contact.
“I think the other main thing for that No.6 role is just the set-piece and shoring that against Argentina is really important as well.”
Wright came off the bench in the Suncorp Stadium victory while he has already had a taste of the Pumas as part of the Australia A side who fell to an understrength side in a warm-up match.
World Cup No.8 Isi Naisarani was a stand-out in the Pumas second trial match victory, scoring two tries to put up his hand for selection after originally been omitted from the squad.
