Preview: Australia v Argentina
With recent performances that foster some optimism, Argentina goes into Saturday's Test against Australia aiming for their first win in the Rugby Championship.
Since joining the Southern Hemisphere championship, Argentina's best result has been a 16-all draw with South Africa - in their second match in 2012.
The Pumas have lost their other 14 matches and been outscored by the opposition by 250 points.
Argentina, however, have challenged both South Africa and New Zealand in Tests this season - losing narrowly (6-13 and 31-33) to the Springboks, before extending the All Blacks, despite losing 9-28 last weekend.
The South Americans haven't beaten the Wallabies since 1997 and haven't won in Australia since 1984.
Last year in Perth, Argentina made it close, losing by just one point.
Not surprisingly the Wallabies are anxious to avoid becoming the Pumas' first scalp in the Rugby Championship.
The Wallabies have lost four times in 21 encounters with Argentina, but only once at home - 31 years ago when they fell 3-18 in Brisbane.
It is something they do not want to repeat on the Gold Coast this weekend.
Wallaby coach Ewen McKenzie has recognised that threat by rushing seasoned hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau into his pack to help counter the Pumas' driving mauls and potent scrum.
"You have to deal with the confrontational parts of the game. I think they see every game as an opportunity. They're just hungry for their first win," McKenzie said.
Wallabies lock Rob Simmons put it more succinctly: "We don't want to be that team [that loses].
"We need to be on our game and really bring it this weekend, for the tight five anyway."
Australia can ensure they move away from the bottom of the series standings and even climb to second spot if they put away the Pumas on Saturday.
"We've got some really good players to put pressure on [the Pumas], but they've defended well in their three games to date," McKenzie said.
"You're going to have to be accurate, that's the one thing we want to improve from last week [against South Africa], it's being a bit more clinical.
"There are subtle differences week to week but we've got a core game that works and everyone trusts, we just have to make sure we execute it a bit better."
The Wallabies squeaked home 24-23 with a last-gasp converted try over the Springboks in Perth last weekend and will be looking for a more clinical performance against the 12th-ranked Pumas.
"We want to give opportunities and minutes to all in the squad in a process that ends with the World Cup 2015," coach Daniel Hourcade said.
"We have to keep the good things we have done and then correct the things that we didn't do well, like the match against New Zealand."
Argentina were left frustrated by a disallowed try which they believe could have change the course of their Test won by the All Blacks 28-9 last weekend.
Former Wallabies coach John Connolly believes Argentina are starting to come to terms with the demands of playing the world's top three teams.
"They look better prepared to me, they look fitter and they appear to have more depth," Connolly said.
Players to watch:
For Australia: This will always start with fullback Israel Folau, as long as he plays for the Wallabies. Flyhalf Bernard Foley will also to repeat the heroics of last week. Michael Hooper leads by example, but fellow flank Scott Fardy rows his team a big game and there is no better time than against the physical Argentineans.
For Argentina: Juan Imhoff is back on the right wing and Manuel Montero on the left wing. They are expected to provide some attacking spark, but it is what will happen inside them that is key. Matias Alemanno comes into the second row for the banned Tomas Lavanini and may be in for a baptism of fire.
Head to head: Two of the most entertaining fullbacks in the game - Israel Folau (Australia) against Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina). At flyhalf it is the steady Bernard Foley (Australia) against the more creative Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina). However, the big battle will be in the scrums - the front rows of Sekope Kepu, Tatafu Polota-Nau and James Slipper (Australia) against Ramiro Herrera, Agustín Creevy and Marcos Ayerza (Argentina).
Recent results:
2013: Australia won 54-17, Rosario
2013: Australia won 14-13, Perth
2012: Australia won 25-19, Rosario
2012: Australia won 23-19, Gold Coast
2003: Australia won 24-8, Sydney (World Cup pool match)
2002: Australia won 17-6, Buenos Aires
2000: Australia won 32-25, Canberra
2000: Australia won 53-6, Brisbane
1997: Argentina won 18-16, Buenos Aires
1997: Australia won 23-15, Buenos Aires
Prediction: Israel Folau has scored four tries in two appearances against the Pumas, including his only hat-trick of his Test career in their most recent meeting. He has scored more against the Pumas than any other international side. The Wallabies host a Test match on the Gold Coast for the second time. They defeated Argentina at the same venue almost two years ago 23-19. The Wallabies are undefeated in their last six home Tests (won five and drawn one), their best run since winning 11 home Tests on the trot between 2006 and 2008. Australia beat more than twice as many defenders (25) as South Africa (10) in Perth last week. Despite losing comfortably to the All Blacks, Argentina missed just 15 tackles in the whole 80 minutes and forced the hosts into missing 12 themselves. Argentina have scored at least one try in each of their last five Tests against Australia and at least one in each of their last four away internationals against the Aussies. However, the Pumas have not scored more than one try, and just four in total, in their last eight Tests away from home against Rugby Championship or Six Nations teams. Argentina will give Australia a good run for their money and have a real chance of a win, but we feel their heartache will continue and the Wallabies will sneak it by less than five points.
Teams:
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Nic White, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Juan Martin Hernández, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Mariano Galarza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Matias Cortese, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Benjamin Macome, 20 Rodrigo Baez, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Date: Saturday, September 13
Venue: Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 20.00 (07.00 Argentina time; 10.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Cloudy, with the chance of thunderstorms from the early afternoon. Easterly winds of about 15 to 20 km/h. High of 21°C and a low of 14°C
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)
AFP & rugby365