Australia will be hard-pressed to beat a determined Argentine outfit in their final Rugby Championship clash in Salta on Saturday, writes Shaun Goosen.
Argentina v Australia
7 October 0h40
Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena
To Win
Argentina 5/6
Draw 22/1
Australia 21/20
Handicap
Argentina (-1.5) 9/10
Australia (+1.5) 9/10
Having been shocked 19-23 in Queensland by Argentina several weeks ago, and having fallen to South Africa in Port Elizabeth on the weekend, alarm bells will surely be ringing for Michael Cheika. The 51-year-old is seriously under-fire heading into what may well be his final Test at the helm.
Since reaching the Rugby World Cup final in 2015, Cheika’s Wallabies have combined to win just 15 of their 37-Tests played for a success rate of just 40 percent.
An Aussie loss will mean they finish bottom of the Rugby Championship standings for the first time since 2009. Currently sitting rock-bottom and three-points astray of this weekend’s opponents, plenty will have to go there way if they are to sneak a win in what will be a cauldron-like atmosphere.
On the other hand, Argentina are enjoying one of their best seasons in recent memory. There is no doubt that Mario Ledesma must receive most of the credit for turning this Pumas side around. His influence on the team has been palpable and the way he has seemingly re-invigorated players who spend the better part of nine months together each year has been plain to see.
Having previously been the Australian forwards coach, his masterminding of that win in Queensland will only serve to push on his charges to another rare win in the competition. Ledesma will realize just how much fire his former boss Cheika is under, and his intimate knowledge of this current Wallaby team will need to come to the fore if they are to undo them again this Sunday morning.
Verdict: Argentina (-1.5) 9/10
Will be very close but expect Ledesma’s men to usurp a clueless Australian outfit at home to make it two wins over their opponents on the bounce.
