Summary
So a solid, if not spectacular win for the Wallabies.
One of the more resolute performances defensively, with the scrum particularly strong - 11 home feeds won, with 2/7 pinched against the feed. The lineout too doing well, with just one thrown away.
Argentina did have their chances - skipper Pablo Matera incredibly disappointed post-match that his side didn’t make more of their opportunities and bemoaning the loss of ball under contact.
They pick up a second losing bonus point in as many rounds, but both sides with plenty to work on ahead of the round 3 matches on August 10.
Michael Hooper saying his chargers will put their feet up for a little bit; get away from rugby for a while and freshen up. They’ll face the All Blacks in Perth, so you’d imagine not too much time fishing.
It’s a reduced Rugby Championship in 2019 given the forthcoming World Cup, which means bonus points and points for/against could come into play following that remarkable draw in Wellington earlier on.
We could see a first ever Springboks series win. Plenty to play for in the final rounds then.
Thanks for your company tonight! Toodlepip.
Full-time: Australia 16-10 Argentina
The hooter sounds, but we reset for a scrum. And again. Both front rows receive a talking to. Eventually we have a feed, and White flilcks to Toomua who happily pumps into touch.
That’s all she wrote - an important win for Australia in the Rugby Championship, six straight wins in Brisbane for the Wallabies, and a 16th win on Australian soil against the Pumas.
Updated
78 min: Oh my! A big knock on from the Pumas about 10m out from their own line. Is that the game?
Nic White with a clever pass out to Kerevi who kicks and chases to force the error. We pack down for a scrum, and surely it’s Australia’s now.
76 min: Penalty miss! Not the most difficult chance we’ve seen tonight but Toomua’s missed it, drifting away to the right.
Could this cost the Wallabies? Let’s see.
Updated
75 min: Wallabies with a scrum feed. They haven’t lost one - yet. Time to smother the game, control the pill for a bit.
And they’ve earned a scrum penalty! Argentina’s front row has collapsed. It’s been one of their best facets tonight, Australia and it might just give them the chance to go outside a converted try.
Try! Australia 16-10 Argentina (Isa)
73 min: They stack the lineout, 11 men in that, I believe. They set for the drive, the Pumas and through a sheer weight of numbers they finally, finally, breach the Wallabies line!
Sanchez with the extras. Can they muster something late, here, Argentina?!
Updated
72 min: Some lovely passages from the Pumas, who are hitting the line hard, still, and backing up well. They have the advantage though after Jones is pinged for offside.
They elect to kick to touch - a lineout from about 8m out. What can they fashion?
70 min: Another big scrum from the Wallabies - they’ve earned a second scrum penalty of the match.
Salakaia-Loto with another handling error. They’ve lost too many old heads out there perhaps. No Genia, and a lot of changes. It’s all looking a little disjointed.
68 min: Argentina probing again, but they do enough defensively, the Wallabies.
And it’s James O’Connor finally on the pitch, Kuridrani makes way. 2,100+ days since he’s last played for the Wallabies. Let’s hope he’s a more mature player these days.
Both captains talking to the referee - Matera not happy about a high hit from Hooper, that has drawn blood. Our Kiwi whistle man is having none of it.
65 min: An accidental finger in the eye to Hooper, who is then guilty of a rare fumble. Probably a fair link between those two events.
Luke Jones - another one returning from a fair absence in the green & gold: five years in fact - jogs on for Naisarani.
They’ve gone off the boil over the last fifteen or so, Australia. Need to get Kerevi on the ball. Or anyone else that fancies a bit of go-forward, really.
63 min: They’re not giving up, the Pumas. Another penalty, and they kick for the corner - again chasing the seven, not the three.
They get within 5m of the Australian line, once again, but they force the play once more and a final pass is adjudged forward.
An off-the-ball incident goes to the TMO with Toomua appearing to take a player late. Nothing there to worry, and we reset for an Argentine lineout following the clearing kick.
Updated
60 min: Big ovation for Will Genia from the Brisbane crowd - he’s played the most games at Suncorp of any Australian; could that be his last?
Nick White and Rob Simmons come into the fray - it’s another halves combo. Salakaia-Loto with the handling error - he’s dropped that cold under not too much pressure. They need to be better, both teams. This won’t do against top five rugby nations come Japan.
58 min: Rodda with a good steal from the lineout. Now it’s Australia guilty of forcing the play. Good hands along the backline, but Hooper pops a pass to Hodge, but he’s got no more than a metre to work within and the pass goes astray.
The scrambling defence from Argentina tonight has been impressive, it must be said.
57 min: Toomua with a nice run at the line from the scrum, but the Pumas have turned them over at the breakdown. Inside the 22 and a real chance - but they choose the wrong option! 2-v-1 out wide, and they elect to put it on the toe - ball into touch! Deary me.
Updated
55 min: Still plenty of willing work from both sides - you can’t fault the effort out there. Credit also the Wallabies defence - their defensive line has played a role in a lot of the Argentine errors, but so too has a persistence of running a very flat line.
You can understand the eyes coming off the ball with men like Kerevi, Kuridrani or Hooper about to hit you in the tackle. Something for the Pumas coaches to look at.
52 min: Good pressure from the Pumas defence as they look to put Koroibete under a heap of heat 5m out from his own line, but Genia with another inch-perfect clearing kick to force the play back to the halfway line.
A decent kick in reply from the Pumas, who pin Australia 5m out from their own line and force them to defend a line out throw. But another Argentine knock-on lets the hosts off.
Have they greased the balls? Or have the Pumas all had manicures before the game? That’s something like 15 handling errors for the visitors. Literally throwing it away, tonight.
Updated
Penalty! Australia 16-3 Argentina
Lealiifano accurate once again - hardly a foot wrong tonight on his return, and he makes way for Toomua. Big cheer from the home crowd for the Brumbies captain. A chance now for Australia to try another halves combination.
48 min: Tongan Thor, Tupou, is on the pitch - a half-time sub, I believe and he plays a clever pop pass. Genia calls Koroibete in from the winger for a clever ball inside - some nice combinations here.
Matt Toomua also posed to come on, as Australia look to add another three points from the boot.
47 min: Genia fires some hard flat passes - well held by Arnold and then one of the outside backs, but the Pumas scramble well.
Slipper comes on for Sio as a break in play for Moyano who’s covered in claret. A nasty head knock there. Line out, Australia.
45 min: Sio with the loose pass as Australia look to capitalise on another Pumas handling error, but Sio can’t make it stick. Moyano receives some running repairs in backplay.
Penalty! Australia 13-3 Argentina
Lealiifano makes it 3/3 on his return with a tricky chance about 15m in from the touchline.
A quick chat with Michael Cheika, who’s called on his players to not panic and keep working on the basics. Particularly around the ruck, but he’s happy with the running lines from his backs so far, the Wallabies boss.
Updated
Second half!
We’re back! Australia kick off, and again, the Pumas have dropped the first ball! Sheesh. Mario Ledesma would have hardly hit his seat and probably feels inclined for a Cheika-style spray. Whatever words he told his chargers at half-time have probably gone out the window already.
And if you missed the news from the earlier Rugby Championship clash between New Zealand and South Africa, here’s the report:
A fascinating clash at the Cake Tin in Wellington. What ramifications could that have for the 2019 Rugby Championship? Are Boks a chance for the silverware now?
So - your thoughts on that opening stanza?
On balance of play, the scoreline is a fair reflection, no? That said - the Pumas did absolutely butcher a try. It could have been 10-10 despite all the huffing and puffing from the big men in gold. Will Genia looking very good out there - the halves combo with Lealiifano seems to be gelling nicely.
Half-time: Australia 10-3 Argentina
And there’s the hooter! Beale with a terrific clearing kick into touch and Australia pinch the lineout to muster one last push. They spread it through the hands, but Argentina are able to slide comfortably.
38 min: Feels like the first time we’ve had 10 phases - as Argentina probe around the edges once again. The Wallabies defence is good to the task however. And they look to run out of ideas as players get in each others’ way and it’s ball to ground.
They’re looking for half-time, you’d imagine. Need to reset, refocus, do Argentina.
36 min: Australia with an offensive lineout after some fine work from the boot of Genia. They’re right on the Pumas’ line - this would really hurt if they could bag a 5-pointer.
But it’s a loose carry! Or put more positively, it’s a great defence tackle that dislodges the ball of the one-out runner. They’ve looked pretty solid defensively, Argentina. Credit where credit is due.
34 min: Some good momentum here for the Wallabies - can they punish their visitors just before half-time?
Good metres once again, and some forward momentum. But it’s another obstruction call, this time on Beale.
Try! Australia 10-3 Argentina (Hodge)
31 min: Special stuff! Australia with the feed 10 inside the Puma’s half and from the set play it’s a fine set piece. Lealiifano with ball in hand, Koroibete with a great line, Kuridrani and Kerevi the decoys and they’ve bamboozled Argentina’s defence.
Lealiifano with the conversion, fine strike from near the touchline. Great well-worked set piece - when’s the last time the Wallabies have successfully prosecuted one of those?! Lovely.
Updated
28 min: Good claim from a highball from Beale, but now Australia have given away another penalty about 30m out! Kuridrani pinged for a shepherd.
They take it quickly, the Pumas - chasing the seven over the three - but it doesn’t come off! It’s another handling error - Argentina’s 10th of the game.
What a bizarre section of this match.
25 min: BIG LETOFF! Oh my. They’ve popped a serious of passes to bust open the Wallabies defence straight from the restart, and with three or four spare players about 5m out the Pumas have butchered one!
It’s a knock-on - a tough ball for a big man, Chaparro, I think. But they’ll be kicking themselves. What a chance to grab a shock lead!
Penalty! Australia 3-3 Argentina
The outcome of that poor lineout option is an error about 30m out, and the Pumas say: yes please. Sanchez with the successful shot at the sticks, and we’re all square, despite the Wallabies territorial dominance.
21 min: We look down on another half-way scrum, this time with a Wallabies feed. And they’ve earned the penalty!
Pumas front row accused of angling in and Hodge kicks for touch. Good work Scott Sio at the scrum.
Deary me - it’s the long line out feed, and it misses all the jumpers and almost sparks a Pumas counter attack! What a waste.
Updated
18 min: Wow! A lively few moments. Big hit on Lealiifano from the Argie’s skipper Matera. Australia almost regather a clever kick and chase but Kuridrani just can’t reel it in. Before the Pumas hammer Hodge into touch with a great tackle and it sparks a brief melee!
A bit of feeling out there. Most likely frustration from both sides from their handling, and also a bit of nervous energy being let off.
15 min: Scrum to Argentina right on halfway after Naisarani is pinged for an infringement.
The stat’s already come up that Kerevi’s made 50m in the first 15 minutes already. None of that is clear air running, so we were right to identify him as a danger man today!
A few decent runs for the Pumas now, they reach the 22. They’re passing very flat, and they turn it over. Nearly a hospital pass that as the defence clatters the man just as he receives and we have a turnover.
12 min: Great bust, Rodda! They were flying up in the defensive line, the Pumas, and Genia pops a terrific short pass to put the tall timber through the line.
It’s undone with a knock on - big let off there. But positive signs that they’re looking to run, rather than kick, the hosts. Beale looking for Hodge earlier, and some solid gains once again.
Penalty! Australia 3-0 Argentina
He slots it nicely! It hooked a little to the left, but still comfortably through the posts. That will help settle any residual nerves for the flyhalf. Probably a fair reflection of the first ten - in which Australia have dominated in terms of metres gained, ball in hand.
10 min: Australia gain 25-30m before earning their first penalty. Again it’s Kerevi making the key yards. Lealiifano with his first look at points as a Wallaby - nearly 1,000 days since his last.
8 min: Is it greasy out there? The Pumas have just put down a drop out cold. Yes, there was some pressure coming through, but they have to hold those. Australian scrum, 10m inside their own half.
6 min: They’re making good metres up the guts, Australia - but having done the hard work, once again, they’re too slow to the breakdown, and the Pumas pinch it. Key area - 25m out. Need to capitalise on the hard running, Wallabies. Still, promising signs that they’re making the metres.
A lot of errors from both sides, early on. That’s 2-3 significant errors from the Wallabies, but neither side have punished their opponents.
4 min: Pumas with ball in hand, they flick wide but can’t get round the wall of gold. They continue to work the short side, no joy on Australia’s left edge. The attacking momentum peters out and the Wallabies bring it out once again.
2 min: Good defence, Australia and they force the fumble. It’s a first scrum after the Pumas’ knock on. A fair weight advantage, Australia - they’re 60+kg on Argentina’s front eight.
Wallabies with a good bust from Kerevi, some loose carries but they get away with it. They spread wide to Hodge, who looks to skip round his opposite number, but it’s a penalty to Argentina. Too slow to the breakdown, and they’ve turned it over.
First whistle!
1 min: And we’re away! It’s Argentina who kick off, deep into Australia’s 22. And it’s Genia who clears for touch. A decent clearance - not too much on it. Argentina get their first look ball in hand 10m inside the Wallabies’ half.
So - to live action: we’ve got both our teams out on the field and the anthems are underway.
Decent looking crowd in at Suncorp in Brisbane. Don’t forget, this match as well as being a key Rugby Championship match will also decide the Puma Cup between Australia and Argentina.
A nice pic of Lealiifano greeting the fans as he came out for warm-up.
Even with 19 caps, he’ll still be incredibly nervous tonight. He may once have never imagined he’d be pulling on the famous jersey again.
So - who do think could be the X-factors today? And how will the new-look halves pair of Will Genia and Lealiifano go? Let us know your top tips.
One player who Argentina will be watching closely is the one-man wrecking ball with the No 12 on his back - Samu Kerevi. He’s had an up-and-down career in the green & gold, but when he’s on, oh, he’s on.
4 - @qantaswallabies inside centre Samu Kerevi has four try involvements (3 tries & a try assist) in his past four Tests against Argentina, including two tries in a #AUSvARG #RugbyChampionship encounter in October 2016. Instigator. pic.twitter.com/lTeZZgqcyN
— OptaJason (@OptaJason) July 27, 2019
So - without further ado - some team news:
As mentioned in the preamble the big in is Brumbies skipper Christian Lealiifano - who comes in at flyhalf in the place of the beleaguered Bernard Foley. Marika Koroibete returns after the birth of his second child, Kurtley Beale comes back in at fullback with no place for Nick White, Tom Banks or Dane Haylett-Petty. Scott Sio also comes in for James Slipper on the front row.
James O’Connor - remember him? Once the rising star of Australian Rugby, then the enfant terrible; now the prodigal son. He’s on the bench after a SIX year absence in the green and gold. Could he be a key boost ahead of the Japan World Cup?
Teams:
Australia: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Reece Hodge, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Christian Lealiifano, 9 Will Genia, 8 Isi Naisarani, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 5 Rory Arnold, 4 Izack Rodda, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 Scott Sio.
Bench: 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.
Bench: 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
Fulltime: New Zealand 16-16 South Africa
Some big news from the earlier Rugby Championship clash between New Zealand and South Africa - a 78th minute try to Boks and a pressure conversion from a tough angle has secured an unlikely draw in Wellington.
They were good value for it, the Boks, despite conceding a raft of penalties in the second half. Injury to Sonny Bill Williams and a nasty knock to Brodie Retallick added concerns for Steve Hansen and his staff. Interesting times.
Hi all! Thanks for joining our coverage, wherever in the world you’re following this. On the intermittent wifi in the Orkneys? Grabbing the phone in between meetings in Macau? Drop us a line and join our coverage. I’m on email or twitter - your best predictions, insights and analysis welcome.
We’re not a million miles away from first whistle in Brisbane - before then here’s some worthy background reading. Our rugby correspondent, Bret Harris, with a sober view of the Wallabies loss to South Africa:
Preamble
2018 was an Annus Horribilis for Australian Rugby. You’d love to say “off-field ructions” were the low point - but a 4 from 13 record on the pitch suggests there was plenty wrong inside Chez Wallabies. Michael Cheika’s vision for the side has repeatedly coming into question with tinkering giving way to significant shifts in personnel. Now a “simplified” return to attacking rugby is the cry ahead of the World Cup - but as the first round Rugby Championship loss to South Africa suggested, there’s still plenty to do if Australia is to challenge at all in the forthcoming World Cup.
Argentina are coming off a pretty impressive first round showing against the All Blacks where they lost narrowly 16-20, but their record in Australia will give the Wallabies some comfort. It’s 13-2 on Australia soil - but concerningly one of those two wins for the Pumas came on the Gold Coast, last year.
On the bright side it’s a stunning return to the side after a three-year absence for Christian Lealiifano - who has battled cancer to return to the top. We wish him the very best.
Plenty of talking points - we’ll delve into those shortly - in the interim, get the kettle on, pull out the fluffy robe. It’s live Rugby Championship action - all here as part of your Saturday Sportwatch!
