Rugby Championship: Wallabies must be ready for Pumas response

After grinding out a last-gasp 20-19 victory over Argentina in a wet Estadio Uno last time out, Joe Schmidt’s Australia must be ready to go again in Santa Fe on Sunday morning.

Behind for most of the game against Los Pumas last weekend, the Wallabies showed great character, especially in their defensive resolve to keep themselves in the game.

Argentina will be reeling from the defeat and eager to make amends in Santa Fe on Sunday.

. What: Argentina v Australia
. Where: Brigadier General Estanislao Lopez Stadium, Santa Fe
. When: 05:00 (AEST), Sunday 8th September
. How to watch: Stan Sport
. Odds: Argentina 1.57, Australia 2.50

Wallabies can be more ambitious in attack

With much better weather expected in Santa Fe this weekend, Schmidt’s Wallabies should be able to do much more with the ball in hand this time around.

Both teams were hampered by the torrential conditions at Estadio Uno in La Plata, with the rolling maul and set-pieces proving vital over what was a dramatic 80 minutes.

Those elements of the maul and set-piece will be key elements again on Sunday but the warm and dry conditions in Santa Fe mean we should see a very different style of game played this weekend.

Defence has been an issue for the Wallabies in recent years but they were able to front up to a physical Argentina pack and pull off a much-needed win in La Plata.

The Wallabies are once again underdogs to make it back-to-back wins, at 2.50 to complete what would be a dream trip to South America with two victories over Los Pumas.

Schmidt will be wary of Pumas backlash

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi might still be wondering how a second win of the 2024 Rugby Championship got away from his side in La Plata.

Once again the rolling maul was proving effective but, despite leading for much of the match, perhaps game management to try and pull away on the scoreboard was lacking from the hosts.

Sunday offers a chance for redemption for Los Pumas and they are 1.57 favourites to respond with a victory in Santa Fe.

Argentina have won two of the last three meetings between these sides and it’s understandable why they are the slight favourites to claim the victory over the Wallabies this weekend.

Another tight encounter might well be on the cards, with the handicap market having Argentina at 1.90 with -4.5.

There is plenty riding on this game, with the context of the battle to avoid the dreaded wooden spoon in the Rugby Championship this season.

Victory for Schmidt’s side and optimism around the progress of this team will be felt back home on Australian soil.

Defeat, and questions will linger on how this Wallabies side can look to bridge the gap to the likes of South Africa and New Zealand in the near future.