A revamped Australia head into their second Rugby Championship clash against Argentina on Saturday in Brisbane at 11.45am desperate to build confidence ahead of the World Cup and appease home fans tired of hearing about the “positives” in defeat.
The Wallabies slumped to their 10th loss in their last 14 Tests with a 35-17 thrashing at Ellis Park last week, dominated by a South Africa team shorn of a raft of first-choice players rested for their follow-up clash against the All Blacks.
But they will be met by a Pumas side that is hungry to continue the good work they did in the 20-16 defeat to the All Blacks last week.
The Pumas also have rueful memories of their last clash against Oz, having given up a 31-7 halftime lead in Salta in October before falling 45-34.
And coach Mario Ledesma says: “It’s a chance to change our last memory. The boys have been working really well this year, they are confident, not confident because we are playing Wallabies, but because of [or] work.”
Australia:
15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Salakai-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Replacements:
16 Tolu Latu, 17 James Slipper, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Luke Jones, 21 Nic White, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 James O’Connor.
Argentina:
15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements:
16 Santiago Socino, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 23 Matias Orlando.