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TODAY AT 11:45 AM TRI NATIONS
by Christy Doran
Dave Rennie has called on Taniela Tupou to tame Los Pumas, with the giant tight-head prop one of three changes to the Wallabies' starting side for Saturday's must-win Tri Nations fixture in Newcastle.
As revealed earlier by RUGBY.com.au, Scott Sio will join Tupou in the starting side after being called in from outside the match 23 that defeated the All Blacks in Bledisloe IV to replace the injured James Slipper.
“After being left out in our last Test we got the reaction we expected from Scott, his preparation this week has been excellent and his experience will be invaluable against Argentina," Rennie said.
The final change is in the back-row, with Ned Hanigan called into the starting side to replace the suspended Lachie Swinton.
As also written on Thursday morning, Rennie has kept faith with the backline that superbly bounced back against the All Blacks to claim Bledisloe IV.
With James O'Connor sidelined with a foot injury, Reece Hodge gets another chance to impress selectors and convince Australian rugby officials, including his Super Rugby side the Melbourne Rebels, that he is a genuine No.10.
He will benefit from having a settled midfield combination, with Hunter Paisami and Jordan Petaia named in the centres.
The back three has plenty of speed in it, with Tom Wright and Marika Koroibete selected on the wing and Tom Banks chosen again in the No.15 jersey. It's the fourth time in 2020 that Banks has been chosen in the role and after steady performances in the jersey, the Brumbies fullback will want to make a statement in the role to settle the debate over who should be occupying the jersey.
Banks will, however, only be able to do that if the forward pack lays the platform against a hungry Pumas pack, which has plenty of muscle and big bodies.
That's why Rennie has called up Tupou, who produced his most complete performance against the All Blacks in their come-from-behind 24-22 win in Brisbane earlier this month.
As well as developing his scrummaging in 2020, Tupou has the unique ability to get the Wallabies over the gain line.
He did that superbly less than a fortnight ago, carrying the ball three times in seven phases in the lead up to his late try in Bledisloe IV. Rennie will want more of the same.
Without Swinton, who brought an "edge" to the Wallabies' pack, Rennie wants some more heavy artillery out on the field and there's no-one bigger than Tupou.
To complement the dynamic running of Tupou, Hanigan has been recalled at No.6 - the jersey he's twice filled in 2020.
Hanigan's improved footwork and excellence in the set-piece will be vital against a Pumas side with one of the best defensive lineouts in the world.
Meanwhile, rather than call-up a specialist second-row replacement, Rennie has opted to include an extra loose-forward on the bench with Rob Valetini selected alongside Liam Wright. That means that if one of his two locks were to get injured, he would shift Hanigan to the second-row.
Elsewhere, Jake Gordon has been given the nod over Tate McDermott who was impressive in his first two Tests off the bench for the Wallabies.
The Wallabies will need no reminder of the threat that Los Pumas pose.
It was only two years ago that the Wallabies were stunned on the Gold Coast by the Argentinians.
The Wallabies, too, will be out to make an impression in the Hunter after a false starts in Newcastle.
It was back in 2012 that the Wallabies were shocked by Scotland on a wet night. That theme continued with the NSW Waratahs, who have lost against the Sunwolves and Blues over the past two years.
Rennie will be out to rectify that on Saturday night.
“As a group, we know respect is earned daily and understand the importance of backing up our last performance with another quality effort on Saturday night," Rennie said.
“The tournament is evenly poised and our fate is in our own hands. We saw how much passion Argentina play with in their performance last weekend and we’re excited by the challenge in Newcastle.”
WALLABIES (1-15): Scott Sio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Matt Philip, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Harry Wilson, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright, Tom Banks
RESERVES: Folau Fainga'a, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Valetini, Liam Wright, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Filipo Daugunu
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/1...win-match-2020
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Argentina tweak bench for vital Tri Nations Test against Wallabies
TODAY AT 3:46 PM TRI NATIONS
by Christy Doran
Mario Ledesma has kept faith with the team that beat the All Blacks for the first time last weekend by naming an unchanged starting lineup for their crucial Tri Nations Test against the Wallabies on Saturday night in Newcastle.
But the former Wallabies scrum coach, who has Michael Cheika as his right-hand man for the tournament, has added some fire power to his bench with Santiago Socino, Facundo Isa and Emiliano Boffelli named after proving their fitness.
The Pumas shocked the world by knocking off the All Blacks 25-15 in Parramatta.
It was their first Test in 402 days and for a large number of the squad it was their first professional match since March after COVID-19 forced SANZAAR officials to suspend the regular 2020 Super Rugby season.
But despite the bruising encounter and emotion surrounding the victory, Ledesma backed his side's recovery methods to get them in shape to go again.
"Well, we worked a lot on being fresh during the week," Ledesma told reporters on Thursday in Sydney.
"We spoke in the first couple of days of changing (the team) or not. (It wasn't because) of form, which was obviously good on the weekend, but recovery and seeing how the boys were feeling, and we decided that we'd give them a go again on the weekend."
Ledesma has, however, tweaked his bench.
Of note, he's regained destructive back-rower Facundo Isa as well as the elusive and versatile back Emiliano Boffelli.
Ledesma said he was hopeful that their experience would give Los Pumas an added boost in the second half.
"We changed a couple on the bench, we recovered a couple of players that were injured - Isa, Boffelli and Santiago Socino- and we're counting on them to have a big impact. They're experienced players and they've played these type of games before."
Like Argentina, the Wallabies are also coming off a last-start win against the All Blacks and Ledesma said his side needed to control the tempo of the match to mitigate their opponents threats.
"I think it's a very balanced team," Ledesma said.
"It's been a couple of years already where they've had an improving set-piece - lineout, driving maul, scrum - and obviously offensive threats in the likes of (Hunter) Paisami or (Jordan) Petaia or Marika Koroibete. The treats are coming from many different places and we've got to be spot on with our game plan and our kicking game and control the tempo of the game."
The match will be the first time that Cheika - who coached the Wallabies for the previous five years - comes up against his old side.
Asked how he would be feeling 48 hours from the Test, Ledesma, who was Cheika's scrum coach when the Wallabies beat the Pumas in the semi-final of the 2015 World Cup, said his assistant and long-time friend would be feeling somewhat torn but added that he would never lose of where he's from.
"I was in his place a few years ago and it's never easy," the Argentine great said.
"He's a very proud Australian and he's not going to change."
PUMAS (1-15): Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Julian Montoya, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Guido Petti, Matias Alemanni, Pablo Matera (c), Marcos Kremer, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomas Cubelli, Nicolas Sanchez, Juan Imhoff, Santiago Chocobares, Matias Orlando, Bautista Delguy, Santiago Carreras
RESERVES: Santiago Socino, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Grondona, Facundo Isa, Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Cordero
WALLABIES (1-15): Scott Sio, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Taniela Tupou, Rob Simmons, Matt Philip, Ned Hanigan, Michael Hooper (c), Harry Wilson, Nic White, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Hunter Paisami, Jordan Petaia, Tom Wright, Tom Banks
RESERVES: Folau Fainga'a, Angus Bell, Allan Alaalatoa, Rob Valetini, Liam Wright, Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Filipo Daugunu
https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/1...newcastle-2020
80 Minutes, 15 Positions, No Protection, Wanna Ruck?
Ruck Me, Maul Me, Make Me Scrum!
Education is Important, but Rugby is Importanter!
Pressing the Pumas line right on half time. They concede 3 in a row a, cop a final warning, are under immense pressure....and Hooper takes 3 points??
Watching the FoxSports coverage.
Both Greg Clark and Phil Kearns complimented the Western Force for one of their signings.
Quote - Phil Kearns"Thats a great signing"
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Yeh. Noticed that.
Packed house in the man cave X?.![]()
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
nah - its wet and steamy.
The Cave is unfortunately a TinShed. Not the best spot to be in the summer months. Cant afford to insulate it or Air Condition it.
Not to mention its a rental property. Makes life difficult.
But, fortunately Rugby is a Winter sport.
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
As a by note -do the Wobblies get an extra point for cynical sportsmanship, if there is such a thing? It was like ‘Let’s play so they do ‘t win by too many points’. Underwhelming.
when the rain came,the wallabies should have kicked it to the corners and created pressure that way
Seems obvious,no? The weird thing was; that seemed the plan in the first 40. Into the wind and offered the Argies some pretty easy exits. But still managed a lead. Seemed to lose cohesion when the subs came on and let themselves get dragged into just the kind of scrap the Argies revel in.
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
Seems Rennie hasn't pulled any punches on exactly that topic...
"At 15-6, we really had control of the game and we had chances to pin them into the corners and we had a fair bit of success with kicking and it looks like we got bored of it...
"We played and overplayed and turned the ball over and let them back into the game...
"Yeah, disappointing. We should have closed it out and really let ourselves down."