Rugby Championship
Wallabies must be at best in Mendoza battle
Cornell Vander Heyden
October 1, 2014
The Waratahs' Kurtley Beale takes a breath, Super Rugby Grand Final Captain's Run, Allianz Stadium, Sydney, August 1, 2014
The Wallabies could well have done without another off-field incident involving Kurtley Beale © Getty Images
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Australia are aiming to end their Rugby Championship campaign on a high with victory against Argentina in Mendoza this weekend.

The bruising, energy-sapping loss to South Africa last weekend, combined with the drama of lost luggage on their way to Argentina and an alleged mid-air incident involving Kurtley Beale and a team official, will do little to assist the Wallabies as they aim to register their third victory of the tournament. The Wallabies made 250 tackles in Cape Town and appeared to pay the price in the final 11 minutes when they conceded 20 points.

The Pumas put in a credible performance against New Zealand last week but remain winless since joining in the Southern Hemisphere competition in 2012. They once again paid the price for poor discipline and were ruthlessly punished by the world champion All Blacks in La Plata and are also likely to be weary at the end of a gruelling sequence of matches.

The vociferous crowd support will lift them though, and the Wallabies will need to maintain the form they displayed in the first 69 minutes against the Springboks if they are to come away with the points.

Team News

  • The Pumas have made five changes to their starting line-up. Veteran back rowers Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Jean Manuel Leguizamon will both be absent. Benjamin Macome will shift to open-side flanker while Rodrigo Baez will start at No.6. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro comes in at tight-head prop, while second rower Tomas Lavanini returns from suspension. In the backs, Martin Landajo returns to the starting scrum-half role while outside-centre Horacio Agulla returns to the starting XV. Winger Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino comes into the squad for Manuel Montero.
  • Kurtley Beale has been dropped from Australia's match-day 23. Rob Simmons misses out after failing a concussion test, leaving former skipper James Horwill to fill the breach, and Scott Higginbotham replaces No. 8 Ben McCalman (shoulder)

In form

Tevita Kurindrani put in arguably his best performance for the Wallabies against South Africa last weekend. The outside-centre was a constant menace to the South African defence and it was his bustling run that led to Adam Ashley-Cooper's try. He's given himself the challenge of backing it up with another big one against the Pumas and the Wallabies will be grateful if he can.

Out of form

There wasn't a terrible performer for Australia in Cape Town, but Kurtley Beale needed to produce more after he was injected into the game. Not that it will be an issue in Medoza as he's missed out on Ewen McKenzie's squad.

Key area to watch

The penalty count. In what is likely to be a tight affair against a home side and crowd fired up to break their tournament drought, discipline will be key. The Pumas will, in all likelihood, improve in that area.

Stats

Argentina have played two Tests at this venue, losing 17-22 to South Africa last year and also playing out a 16-16 draw against the same opposition a year before, their only non-defeat in this tournament.

Prediction

In 2013 the Wallabies arrived in Argentina from South Africa and thumped the Pumas to end their tournament campaign in the best possible way. They'll get the job done again, but only just. Australia by 5.

Greg Growden tips a big upset in the final round of the Rugby Championship
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