Australia has taken an early lead in their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina at Commbank Stadium, leading 10-0 after 12 minutes.
It was an electric start from the Pumas as centre Lucio Cinti wove through the Australian defensive line with a sizzling sidestep in the opening moments.
Argentina was awarded an early penalty, but Emiliano Boffelli hit the upright from the regulation position — a bad early miss from the visitors.
The Wallabies struck back almost immediately, with Quade Cooper’s lofted pass finding Marika Koroibete on the left wing before an awkward basketball pass to Len Ikitau, who scored near the corner flag in the fifth minute. Cooper nailed the conversion and extended Australia’s lead to ten points after booting a penalty kick a few minutes later.
MATCH CENTRE: Wallabies vs Pumas live score
Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika lock horns for a ninth time as the Wallabies host Argentina for their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday evening.
Both sides are coming off humbling defeats, with Australia suffering a 43-12 loss to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Jones’ first assignment as Wallabies mentor. Meanwhile, Argentina were toppled by the All Blacks 41-12 at home after conceding three tries in the opening 15 minutes.
The Pumas defeated Australia when the two nations previously faced off – last year’s 48-17 drubbing in San Juan.
Argentina will leapfrog Australia on world rankings if they emerge victorious this weekend, while the Wallabies will climb to sixth if they defeat the Pumas. If the Wallabies win Saturday evening’s match, Australia would sit above England on the world rankings for the first time since 2016.
“We‘re going to fire up on Saturday, there’s no excuse,” Jones said.
“We‘re trying to create a squad that’s capable of winning the World Cup and that wins on Saturday.
“Every time you get to game time, it‘s about winning.”
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Australia has made five changes to its starting XV ahead of the Argentina clash, with co-captain Michael Hooper (calf) and flanker Tom Hooper (shoulder) ruled out with injury.
Former Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu, who was sin-binned during last week’s defeat, has faced the axe along with inside centre Reece Hodge and lock Nick Frost.
Fraser McReight will don the No. 7 jersey, partnering Jed Holloway at flanker, while second-rower Richie Arnold, who came off the bench on Test debut last weekend, will pack down alongside fellow France-based lock Will Skelton.
Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawa has earnt a recall, while Samu Kerervi will start in the centres alongside Len Ikitau.
Kick-off at Commbank Stadium is scheduled for 7.45pm AEST.
WALLABIES XV
Tom Wright, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (c)
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa‘amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon
PUMAS XV
Emiliano Boffelli, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (c), Thomas Gallo
Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
