Both teams will be desperate for a win this weekend in Perth after neither of them have managed to win a match so far in this year’s Rugby Championship. The bottom of the table battle between the Wallabies and Argentina in Perth is a must-win for under-pressure coach Ewen McKenzie.
The Argentines have made 5 changes from their 28-13 loss to the All Blacks last weekend. The strong Argentinian team features a return of 85-test veteran Felipe Contepomi into the midfield; inspirational leader Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe will play at flanker and last week’s stand-out Juan Manuel Leguizamon comes back in at No.8 for his 50th Test.
Will Genia was controversially dropped from the starting lineup and it will be interesting to see how he reacts after McKenzie favoured Nic White. McKenzie praised White saying, “He’s is one of the guys I didn’t know much about. He has done everything! He’s impressed me and he has taken the little moments on the field that we have given him.” Ben Mowen will become the 80th Australian to captain the side in his 7th test match.
The Pumas have made it clear they will want to target the Wallabies under-performing forward pack who were demolished by the Springboks last weekend. The Pumas will look to focus on the scrum after dominating that facet of the game against the All Blacks which earned them several penalties. Prop Marcos Ayerza is keen to make an impact against the Australian pack this weekend.
“I think one of our big strengths that gives us confidence is playing the physical game – the tight forward game.”
“We pride ourselves in that area.”
Mckenzie responded to the challenge by saying,”it’s the sort of game we need. We need a physical challenge to get ourselves right.”
Let’s hope the Wallabies can get it right this weekend.
[one_half last=”no”]
Wallabies
1. James Slipper
2. Stephen Moore
3. Ben Alexander
4. Rob Simmons
5. Kane Douglas
6. Scott Fardy
7. Michael Hooper
8. Ben Mowen (c)
9. Nic White
10. Quade Cooper
11. Nick Cummins
12. Christian Lealiifano
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper
14. James O’Connor
15. Israel Folau
Reserves
16. Saia Faingaa
17. Scott Sio
18. Sekope Kepu
19. Sitaleki Timani
20. Ben McCalman
21. Will Genia
22. Matt Toomua
23. Tevita Kuridrani
Do you agree with Genia riding the pine?
[poll id=”97″]
[/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]
Los Pumas
1. Marcos Ayerza
2. Agustin Creevy
3. Juan Figallo
4. Manuel Carizza
5. Julio Farias Cabello
6. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c)
7. Pablo Matera
8. Juan Manuel Leguizamon
9. Tomas Cubelli
10. Nicolas Sanchez
11. Juan Imhoff
12. Felipe Contepomi
13. Gonzalo Tiesi
14. Horacio Agulla
15. Juan Martin Hernandez
Reserves
16. Eusebio Guinazu
17. Nahuel Lobo
18. Juan Pablo Orlandi
19. Mariano Galarza
20. Benjamin Macome
21. Martin Landajo
22. Santiago Fernandez
23. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino[/one_half]
