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The 2020 Tri Nations will conclude on Saturday. Australia play host to Argentina in a re-match from two weeks ago. With neither side winning on that day, the upcoming match will determine the better of the two teams in 2020.
Dave Rennie has made there changes to the Wallabies. The first comes in the front-row. Allan Alaalato is back to start at tight head ahead of Taniela Tupou.
In the backs the fit-again James O’Connor will start at fly half. This sees a move from fly half to fullback for Reece Hodge. Hodge has previously played at both centers and on both wings for the Wallabies. With Hodge at the back Tom Banks drops to the bench.
There are two additional changes to the bench. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has recovered from an ankle injury; he takes-over from Liam Wright, while Irae Simone is preferred to Noah Lolesio.
Mario Ledesma has changed ten players. Captain Pablo Matera will not play and nor will Guido Petti or Santiago Socino. The team decided it was better for the trio to sit out the match. This means that former Jaguares skipper Jerónimo de la Fuente assumes the captaincy.
de la Fuente joins Matías Orlando in the mid-field. They last started together at RWC 2019. Orlando replaces Juan Cruz Mallía while de la Fuente starts ahead of rookie Santiago Chocobares. de la Fuente will play outside Nicolás Sánchez who will play with Felipe Ezcurra in the halves.
Changes to the back-three see Bautista Delguy back for Santiago Cordero on the right wing. Emiliano Boffelli moves from fullback to the left wing while Santiago Carreras will start at the back.
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Francisco Gómez Kodela return to start with Julián Montoya in the front-row. Santiago Medrano drops out of the 23 Matías Alemanno will lock the scrum with Marcos Kremer who moves from flanker for this fixture. Rookie Santiago Grondona earns his first test start and will be joined by Facundo Isa and Rodrigo Bruni in the back-row.
Last weeks debutant, Lucas Paulos, will feature on the bench against Australia. The bench includes three uncapped: José Luis González, Francisco Gorrissen, and Domino Miotti. Patagonian prop Juan Pablo Zeiss will also have his first opportunity of the tournament and his first cap since 2018.
There have been 33 prior matches between the Wallabies and Los Pumas. Australia have 25 wins, Argentina 6 and there has been two draws. The second draw occurred just two weeks ago. It was a match wherein the Wallabies were the better team, yet Sánchez kicked Argentina to a 15-15 result.
Argentina will play their fourth match in as many weeks. Los Pumas were not at their best against New Zealand last week. Off-field issues also meant that this was not an ideal week. Australia, on the other hand, are fresh and well-reared. ARN projects a Wallabies victory by 10 points.
TEAMS
AUSTRALIA
1 Scott Sio, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Rob Simmons, 5 Matt Philip, 6 Ned Hanigan, 7 Michael Hooper (capt.), 8 Harry Wilson, 9 Nic White, 10 James O’Connor, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Hunter Paisami, 13 Jordan Petaia, 14 Tom Wright, 15 Reece Hodge
Replacements: 16 Folau Fainga’a, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Rob Valentini, 21 Jake Gordon, 22 Irae Simone, 23 Tom Banks
ARGENTINA
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Julián Montoya, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Marcos Kremer, 6 Santiago Grondona, 7 Facundo Isa, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (capt.), 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Santiago Carreras
Replacements: 16 José Luis González, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Francisco Gorrissen, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Santiago Chocobares
Date: Saturday, December 05
Kick-Off: 7:45pm (Sydney), 5:45am (Argentina)
Venue: Bankwest Stadium, Sydney
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Paul Williams (New Zealand)
TMO : Angus Gardner (Australia)
