2024 Rugby Championship – Argentina vs Australia – ARN Guide

Argentina play at home for the first time in the 2024 Rugby Championship. Coming off a split series against New Zealand, Los Pumas take-on Australia who lost twice to South Africa at home. The teams meet twice annually in the Rugby Championship, with World Cup years being the exception. Argentina won the 2023 clash on the road in Sydney, Australia.

 

FORM GUIDE

Current World Ranking: 6 (83.30 points)
2024-08-17 – New Zealand 42-10 Argentina (Auckland, NZ)
2024-08-10 – New Zealand 30-38 Argentina (Wellington, NZ)
2024-07-20 – Uruguay 05-79 Argentina (Punta del Este, UY)
2024-07-13 – Argentina 33-25 France (Buenos Aires, AR)
2024-07-06 – Argentina 13-28 France (Mendoza, AR)

Current World Ranking: 9 (78.96 points)
2024-08-17 – Australia 12-30 South Africa (Perth, AU)
2024-08-10 – Australia 07-33 South Africa (Brisbane, AU)
2024-07-20 – Australia 40-29 Georgia (Sydney, AU)
2024-07-13 – Australia 36-28 Wales (Melbourne, AU)
2024-07-06 – Australia 25-16 Wales (Sydney, AU)

STARTING LINEUP CHANGES

3 Joel Sclavi replaces Lucio Sordoni
7 Marcos Kremer moves from 4; replaces Juan Martín González
8 Juan Martín González moves from 7; replaces Joaquín Oviedo
14 Santiago Cordero replaces Matías Moroni

2 Matt Faessler replaces Josh Nasser
3 Taniela Tupou replaces Allan Alaalatoa
4 Nick Frost replaces Angus Blyth
9 Jake Gordon replaces Nic White
12 Hamish Stewart replaces Hunter Paisami

 

MOST CAPS

–  A Creevy (109); P Matera (103); J Montoya (98); T Lavanini (88); G Petti (82); M Kremer (69)

– J Slipper (138); A Alaalatoa (72); M Koroibiete (60); T Tupou (52); R Valetini (44); L Salakaia-Loto (34)

LEAST CAPS

– F Molina (5); T Albornoz (10)

– H Stewart (0); M Jorgensen (1); C Tizzano (2)

NOTABLE ABSENTEES

– Facundo Isa (N8); Emiliano Boffelli (WI); Matías Moroni (CE/WI)

– Rob Leota (FL); Fraser McReight (FL); Kurtley Beale (FB)

NOTES

• It is the Wallabies first appearance in Buenos Aires province since winning 17-06 in 2002.
• It will be the first meeting between Los Pumas and the Wallabies in La Plata. The 15 prior test matches between the teams in Argentina were played in Buenos Aires, Mendoza, Rosario, Salta and San Juan.
• Argentina last played in La Plata in 2014. New Zealand were 34-13 winners.
• It is a home test for La Plata players Lucio Cinti, and Agustin Creevy.
• The match marks Creevy’s Pumas retirement. He currently has a Pumas record 109 caps. He covers captain Julián Montoya who will earn his 99th cap.
• Joel Sclavi starts for Argentina for the first time this year. Lucio Sordoni is now with Racing 92.
• Replacements Guido Petti and Santiago Grondona are set for their first caps of 2024.
• The 23 Pumas played the past season in England (9), France (7), Italy (3), Ireland (1), Japan (1), Wales (1) and Argentina (1).
• Australia play away for the first time in 2024.
• Harry Wilson captains Australia for the first time. He is the 90th Wallabies skipper.
• Hamish Stewart will make his debut opposite Santiago Chocobares. Stewart is Wallaby #986
• Taniela Tupou and Nick Frost return for Australia. Tupou missed the South African series due to family tragedy.

PREDICTION

Referee James Doleman is known for encouraging fast-paced rugby; however, wet conditions, including a lot of rain, are expected in La Plata. This may ask questions of the set-piece of both teams. South Africa and New Zealand both excelled in the scrum in the prior round of the Rugby Championship. The team that can get on top in the battle of the breakdown and at collisions will have the edge. Argentina are favorites to win at home.

LINE-UPS

ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Joel Sclavi, 4 Franco Molina, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Pablo Matera (vice-capt.), 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Juan Martín González, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía (vice-capt.)

Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomás Lavanini, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 23 Tomás Albornoz

AUSTRALIA
1 Angus Bell, 2 Matt Faessler, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Nick Frost, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Carlo Tizzano, 8 Harry Wilson (capt.), 9 Jake Gordon, 10 Noah Lolesio, 11 Marika Koroibete, 12 Hamish Stewart, 13 Len Ikitau, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 15 Tom Wright

Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen

MATCH INFO

Date: Saturday, August 31
Kickoff: 7pm (Buenos Aires); 8am (Sydney, AU); 6am Perth (AU)
Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata (AR)
Broadcasts: ESPN, Disney +  (Argentina)
Weather Forecast: Rain, 12°C, wind 21 km/h

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand); Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)

HISTORY vs (1979-2023)

2023/07/15 – Australia 31-34 Argentina (Sydney, AU)
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)

HEAD TO HEAD vs

Wins 28
Wins 8
Draws 3