Wallabies v Argentina: Pre game report; teams

The changes mean Cheika has selected a completely different halves pairing with Foley to start at fly-half ahead of Quade Cooper, while Phipps will play at scrum-half in Saturday’s match.

Argentina’s two tries against New Zealand came from brilliantly-executed driving mauls following lineouts and Australia expect the Pumas to use that tactic and the scrum to attack.

The Pumas had an historic win here last October, overcoming a 14-0 deficit to beat Australia 21-17 to claim their first victory ever in the Rugby Championship – it took 18 tests against the three southern hemisphere heavyweights before the milestone was achieved.

But head coach Michael Cheika has rung the changes for Saturday’s Test in Mendoza, with David Pocock, Greg Holmes, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua and Joe Tomane all coming into the side along with Foley, who is desperate to prove he is worth his place.

Coach Michael Cheika said he had no hesitation calling up Lealiifano, who had been used as an additional training squad member in the lead-up to the Springboks match, after inside centre Matt Giteau sustained a sternum injury in the 24-20 win in Brisbane on Saturday night. Foley’s recall relegates Quade Cooper to the bench.

“There’s probably a bit of extra pressure this weekend, and I’m looking forward to it”.

“That competitive nature of these trainings and of every session is really bringing out the best in the team”.

The Hooper-Pocock back row tandem screams out as a worthwhile change – it’s hardly a risk – after both impressed against South Africa last weekend, and Pocock could be a surprise starter at No.8, where he excelled off the bench after replacing Scott Higginbotham.

Cheika wasn’t around last year when the side was hit by the off-field troubles involving Kurtley Beale which ultimately led to the resignations of coach Ewen McKenzie and team business manager Di Patston.

The only changes in the Argentina pack were lock Tomas Lavanini and flanker Javier Desio moving into the starting XV.

Camacho dislocated his shoulder so badly against New Zealand in September 2013 that he needed three operations.

“They all deserve their start against [Argentina] and they now have an opportunity”, Cheika said.

ARGENTINA – Cordero Santiago, Gonzalo Camacho, Matias Moroni, Juan Pablo Socino, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Facundo Isa, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Javier Desio, Tomas Lavanini, Manuel Carizza, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy (captain), Marcos Ayerza.

Wallabies team: J Slipper, S Moore (c), G Holmes, W Skelton, R Simmons, S Fardy, D Pocock, B McCalman, N Phipps, B Foley, J Tomane, M Toomua, T Kuridrani, A Ashley-Cooper (v-c), I Folau.

With Genia, Giteau and Horne unavailable, Cheika has called up Kurtley Beale, Dean Mumm and Nic White onto the bench.