The Tri-Nations Rugby Championship was blown wide open last weekend when Argentina pulled off a shock victory over New Zealand’s All Blacks.
Los Pumas defeated the All Blacks 25-15 in Sydney to record their historic maiden Test match win over their illustrious opponents in 30 Tests dating back 35years to 1985.
The All Blacks still lead the standings but they have played one more match than their rivals.
New Zealand leads the Tri-Nations Rugby Championship standings through bonus points but whoever wins this weekend will take the top spot.
It’s all to play for.
Argentina v Australia Rugby Championship Rd.4 Preview
- Argentina has played Australia 32 times since 1979; the Pumas have won six matches, lost 25 times, and drawn once.
- Los Pumas’s six wins give them a record of winning 19% of their matches against the Wallabies regardless of venue.
- This weekend the match will be played at McDonald Jones Stadium in Newcastle, which is a venue at which the teams have never met before.
- The Pumas have played the Wallabies 19 times away from home, winning two matches at an 11% success rate, which is rather disappointing for the South Americans.
- The average score when Argentina play Australia away from home is Argentina 15 Australia 30.
- Argentina has not beaten Australia on Australian soil since 2018.
Argentina
Covid-19 Change: Los Pumas have lost scrum-half Tomas Cubelli to injury, he is replaced by Gonzalo Bertranou, while Felipe Ezcurra comes onto the bench.
Los Pumas head coach Mario Ledesma has named an unchanged starting XV for the clash.
This rewards the team’s superb performance against the All Blacks in their last match that saw them beat the Kiwis for the first time in their history.
The back row of captain Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer and Rodrigo Bruni remain intact.
Matias Alemanno and Guido Petti partner in the boiler room.
Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez was close to being the best player against the All Blacks and has scored two tries and a total of 40 points across his last two Test appearances, but has scored only one try in his previous 13 tests against Australia.
However, he is a potent threat and will punish the Wallabies with his boot if they give away too many penalties. His halfback partner is Bertranou, in for Cubelli.
Replacements: Powerful back row ball carrier Facundo Isa replaces Tomas Lezana; Santiago Socino is the new reserve hooker replacing Facundo Bosch, and fullback/winger Emiliano Boffelli takes his place on the bench instead of Lucio Cinti.
Australia
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has made three changes to the starting XV for the side’s Tri-Nations clash against Argentina in Newcastle.
Forwards: Scott Sio replaces injured James Slipper at loosehead prop, alongside hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and the damaging Taniela Tupou, who starts for the third time this Test season in the number three jersey.
Rob Simmons will play his 105th Test for the Wallabies at McDonald Jones Stadium, partnering Matt Philip in the second row.
Ned Hanigan will start at blindside flanker in the third and final change to the starting team, joined in the back row by skipper Michael Hooper and number eight, Harry Wilson.
Backs: Nic White will get his first chance to play for his country in the Hunter Valley, partnering with Reece Hodge who retains the number 10 jersey after steering the side to a win over New Zealand in Brisbane.
Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia get another chance to combine in the midfield, at inside and outside centre respectively.
Tom Wright will again start on the wing with Marika Koroibete and Tom Banks rounding out an unchanged backline.
Replacements: Folau Fainga’a and latest Test debutant Angus Bell will again be called upon as cover in the front row, along with Brumbies skipper Allan Alaalatoa.
Rob Valetini will cover both the second and back row with Reds captain Liam Wright the other forward cover.
Waratahs number nine Jake Gordon returns to the matchday 23 for the first time since Auckland and is joined by young playmaker Noah Lolesio and Filipo Daugunu as the replacement backs.
The Bookies have given Argentina a 5 point start for this match.
Average score: Argentina 17 Australia 28
Last five results
27 Jul 2019: ARG v AUS 10-16 Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
06 Oct 2018: ARG v AUS 34-45 Salta
15 Sep 2018: ARG v AUS 23-19 Robina Stadium, Gold Coast
07 Oct 2017: ARG v AUS 20-37 Mendoza
16 Sep 2017: ARG v AUS 20-45 Bruce Stadium, Canberra
Argentina’s overall record against Australia
Played 32, Wins 6, Losses 25, Draws 1
Argentina’s winning percentage against Australia = 19%
Match : Argentina v Australia
Date: Saturday, 21 November 2020
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, Australia
Kick-Off local: 19:45
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Ref 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
Assistant Ref 2: Angus Gardner (RA)
TMO: Nic Berry (RA)
Teams
Argentina
15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo
Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Emiliano Boffelli, 23 Santiago Cordero
Australia
15 Tom Banks, 14 Tom Wright, 13 Jordan Petaia, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Reece Hodge, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Ned Hanigan, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Scott Sio
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Valetini, 20 Liam Wright, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Noah Lolesio, 23 Filipo Daugunu