Rugby Championship 2023 – Australia vs Argentina – ARN Guide

Having been beaten in round one of the 2023 Rugby Championship Australia and Argentina clash in the second round. Neither team put in a performance that they were happy with. The Springboks were far better than the Wallabies and the All Blacks were much better than Los Pumas.

The battle between Australia and Argentina is the only scheduled match-up between the teams this year. With the Rugby Championship reduced due to the Rugby World Cup there is just the one fixture. Notwithstanding, if both teams get out of their pools at the World Cup they could face-off in the Quarter Finals or beyond.

All eyes are on Rugby World Cup 2023. The 2023 Rugby Championship is on-field preparation for both competitors. Coaches are narrowing down their options; doing so without revealing all their plans. The Players are asked to prove that they merit places. There will be notable names who miss out for both.

Australia are led by the vastly experienced James Slipper. The loose head prop will earn his 129th cap in the match. He will be the only captain against Argentina; co-captain Michael Hooper is out with a foot injury. This sees an opportunity for Fraser McReight to start at flanker.

McReight will partner Jed Holloway as the flankers. This comes with Tom Hooper out with a shoulder injury. They will have the Top 14 duo of Will Skelton and Richie Arnold ahead of them in the engine room. Arnold made his debut against South Africa as a replacement.

The back line sees Samu Kerevi back in the mix. He will play inside Len Ikitau in the mid-field. Nic White and Quade Cooper play as the halves while Mark Nawaqanitawase and Marika Koroibete play on the wings and Tom Wright stats at fullback.

The replacements see Angus Bell returning from injury. Jordan Uelese and Pone Fa’amausili are the additional front-row cover. Matt Philip and Rob Leota are both also on the bench as is the uncapped Josh Kemeny. He will become the 968th Wallaby.

The replacements has the unusual formation of six forwards and two backs. Tate McDermott covers scrum-half while Carter Gordon is a fly half offering utility value to Eddie Joins’ Wallabies.

Julián Montoya will earn his 87th cap for Argentina. He will lead the team alongside players separated by 14 years. Thomas Gallo will be partnered by Francisco Gómez Kodela. The latter replaces Lucio Sordoni for his first cap of the year.

Veterans Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini again lock the scrum. They will earn their 86th and 80th caps respectively. Despite being on the roster, Guido Petti remains unfit to play. Reconfiguration sees Juan Martín González moving from flanker to N8. He has never played for Argentina in the position previously. Santiago Grondona and Pablo Matera will be the flankers.

The changes are in part to try options ahead of finalizing the World Cup roster. They are also motivated by a decision to give Top 14 Semi Finalist players more rest time. This applies to Joel Sclavi, Facundo Isa, Santiago Chocobares, Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff. Guido Petti is injured and targeting a return against South Africa. The aforementioned players are being primed for that match too.

The backs see one Top 14 player; Jerónimo de la Fuente starts at inside center with Lucio Cinti replacing Matías Moroni at outside center. Rodrigo Isgró will make his test debut for Los Pumas. The Argentine 7’s star joins Mateo Carreras and Emiliano Boffelli in the back-three with Sebastián Cancelliere dropped after his 11th hour call-up for Bautista Delguy.

The halves see Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Carreras again preferred by Michael Cheika. They area Argentina’s expected players to wear 9 and 10 at the World Cup. Veteran Nicolás Sánchez will need a strong showing from the bench; he is also looking out for his 97th cap.

The match will be the 39th test match between Australia and Argentina. The Wallabies have recorded 28 wins and Los Pumas have 7. The most recent match saw Argentina in firm control; Argentina recorded a record-breaking 48-17 win in San Juan. The only prior test match between the teams at Saturday’s Sydney venue was in 2020. They competed to a 16-16 draw.

AUSTRALIA
1 James Slipper (capt.), 2 David Porecki, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Richie Arnold, 5 Will Skelton, 6 Jed Holloway, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Rob Valetini, 9 Nic White, 10 Quade Cooper, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Samu Kerevi, 13 Len Ikitau, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 15 Tom Wright

Replacements: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Josh Kemen, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Carter Gordon

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Santiago Grondona, 8 Juan Martín González, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 15 Emiliano Boffelli

Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Matías Moroni

Date: Saturday, July 15
Kickoff: 7:45pm (AEST); 6:45am (AR)
Venue: Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney (AU)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (ZA)
Assistant Referees: Paul Williams (NZ); James Doleman (NZ)
TMO: Marius Jonker (ZA)
Broadcasts: ESPN, Star+  (Argentina)

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COMPLETE RESULTS
2022/08/13 – Argentina 48-17 Australia (San Juan, AR)
2022/08/06 – Argentina 26-41 Australia (Mendoza, AR)
2021/10/02 – Australia 32-17 Argentina (Gold Coast, AU)
2021/09/25 – Australia 27-08 Argentina (Townsville, AU)
2020/12/05 – Australia 16-16 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
2020/11/21 – Australia 15-15 Argentina (Newcastle, AU)
2019/07/27 – Australia 19-10 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
2018/10/06 – Argentina 34-45 Australia (Salta, AR)
2018/09/15 – Australia 19-23 Argentina (Gold Coast, AU)
2017/10/07 – Argentina 20-37 Australia (Mendoza, AR)
2017/09/16 – Australia 45-20 Argentina (Canberra, AU)
2016/10/08 – Argentina 21-33 Australia (London, UK)
2016/09/17 – Australia 36-20 Argentina (Perth, AU)
2015/10/25 – Australia 29-15 Argentina (London, UK)
2015/07/25 – Argentina 9-34 Australia (Mendoza, AR)
2014/10/04 – Argentina 21-17 Australia (Mendoza, AR)
2014/09/13 – Australia 32-25 Argentina (Gold Coast, AU)
2013/10/05 – Argentina 17-54 Australia (Rosario, AR)
2013/09/14 – Australia 14-13 Argentina (Perth, AU)
2012/10/06 – Argentina 19-25 Australia (Rosario, AR)
2012/09/15 – Australia 23-19 Argentina (Gold Coast, AU)
2003/10/10 – Australia 24-8 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
2002/11/02 – Argentina 06-17 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)
2000/06/24 – Australia 32-25 Argentina (Canberra, AU)
2000/06/17 – Australia 53-06 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
1983/11/08 – Argentina 18-16 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)
1997/11/01 – Argentina 15-23 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)
1995/05/06 – Australia 30-13 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
1995/04/30 – Australia 53-07 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
1991/10/04 – Australia 32-19 Argentina (Llanelli, UK)
1987/11/07 – Argentina 27-19 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)
1987/10/31 – Argentina 19-19 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)
1986/07/12 – Australia 26-0 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
1986/07/06 – Australia 39-19 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
1983/08/07 – Australia 29-13 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
1983/07/31 – Australia 03-18 Argentina (Brisbane, AU)
1979/11/03 – Argentina 12-27 Australia (Buenos Aires (AR)
1979/10/27 – Argentina 24-13 Australia (Buenos Aires, AR)

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OVERALL RESULTS
Australia Wins 28
Argentina Wins 7
Draws 3