Written by @QuintenLetcher for @Hollywoodbets. Follow them both on Twitter and Facebook now!
Australia vs Argentina | Saturday 13 September | Skilled Park | 12:05
The Wallabies host an ever improving Argentine outfit down in Queensland this Saturday, and coming off a controversial last minute victory over a somewhat sombre Springbok side in Round 3, the haughty Ewen McKenzie will be understandably optimistic of his chances this weekend against the competition underdogs. The Wallabies started off strong in this year’s competition with a promising 12-12 draw against the reigning World Champions in Sydney, but any delusions that draw may have created about the Wallabies’ chances of wrestling the Rugby Championship title from the Kiwis this year were short lived as the All Blacks unleashed a relentless attack on the Aussies a week later to claim a resounding 51-20 win. They were far but convincing against the South Africans last week, but they showed enough composure to keep within reach for the full eighty, and their attacking game improved tremendously when Kurtley Beale came on in the final stages. It was only a matter of time before they found the gap in the Springbok defence to help them clinch the game.
Argentina are still searching for their first taste of victory in the Rugby Championship, but they are certainly narrowing the gap between them and the world’s top tier sides. They pushed the Springboks close in the two opening clashes, and were slightly unlucky not to pick up the win in Salta leading 31-30 with just minutes left on the clock, but Morne Steyn managed to swing it for the visitors with late penalty. They held their own against the All Blacks in Napier last weekend in a game plagued by poor officiating and poorer weather, but their powerful performance in the scrums will be something they’ll hope to build on this week as it is an area the Aussies have failed to control for some time now.
To Win (80mins)
Australia 2/11
Argentina 4/1
Draw 28/1
Handicaps
Australia (-11.5) 9/10
Argentina (+11.5) 9/10
Argentina
Los Pumas have made three changes to their run on side for this weekend’s clash. Just one change to the formidable forward pack with youngster Matias Alemanno coming into the second row where he teams up with Mariano Galarza. In the backline, wings Horacio Agulla and Lucas Gonzalez have both been axed for lacklustre performances against the All Blacks last week. They are replaced by Juan Imhoff and Manuel Montero.
Australia
Ewen McKenzie has included powerhouse hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau in his run on side this week as he attempts to beef up his pack for the inevitably physical battle up front that awaits his side. James Hanson drops to the bench to make way for Polota-Nau’s inclusion. With Wycliff Palu out injured, Ben McCalman will start ahead of Scott Higginbotham at eighthman in the only other change to the Aussie pack. In the backline, an injury to Adam Ashley-Cooper allows winger Peter Betham his second start for the Wallabies. Bernard Foley and Nick Phipps are retained as the halfback pairing, but surprisingly McKenzie has decided to leave Kurtley Beale warming the bench again this week despite his explosive performance in the final stages of last week’s clash with the Springboks.
VERDICT: Argentina (+11.5) 9/10
Argentina’s forward pack have proved troublesome for both the Springboks and the All Blacks so far this season and they’re likely to do the same against the Wallabies this week. And without fast, clean ball the expansive Aussie attack won’t be given the opportunity to flourish. The Aussies should manage the win, but it’ll be a close one.
Think we’ve got it wrong? Well leave your comments below and tell us how you think this is going to play out.
