Wallabies captain Harry Wilson has warned his team that a fired-up Argentina presents a "scary proposition" as they prepare for their Rugby Championship clash in Sydney this Saturday. After narrowly defeating the Pumas 28-24 in a thrilling match in Townsville last week, the Wallabies are wary of a potential backlash.
Wilson vividly remembers last year's experience, where a narrow 20-19 victory in La Plata was followed by a crushing 67-27 defeat in Santa Fe. "We do know what's coming. We experienced it first-hand last year, and it wasn't nice at all," Wilson stated. "We know how much of a class team they are and them fired up is a scary proposition for us, but we are really excited for the challenge."
The Wallabies' victory in Townsville was hard-fought, as they had to overcome a 21-7 halftime deficit. Ill-discipline plagued their performance, conceding 10 penalties, four within their own half. Wilson emphasized the need for improvement in this area. "For us, it's about building on our performance last week. We have a few errors in our game, which we know we need to improve to beat these guys again," he said.
"We've been a really disciplined team now for quite a long time and one bad week doesn't change it for us. It's just about getting back to our normal discipline, which is just not giving away penalties, silly mistakes, silly errors to get the opposition into the game."
Coach Joe Schmidt has made four changes to the lineup. Tane Edmed will make his starting debut at fly-half, replacing the injured Tom Lynagh. Hunter Paisami will take Ikitau's place at centre. Jeremy Williams returns to the second row, and veteran prop James Slipper is back from concussion for his 149th test, bringing valuable experience against the Argentinian side.
Key Matchup: Wallabies Discipline vs. Pumas' Intensity
The outcome of the match hinges on the Wallabies' ability to maintain discipline and avoid unnecessary penalties. If they can control their errors and match the Pumas' intensity, they stand a good chance of securing another victory. However, a repeat of last year's collapse could be on the cards if they allow Argentina to dictate the tempo of the game.
Players to Watch:
- Tane Edmed: The rookie fly-half will be under pressure to perform in his starting debut.
- James Slipper: His experience will be crucial in containing the Argentinian forwards.
- Argentina's Forwards: The Pumas' pack will be looking to dominate the scrum and create attacking opportunities.