Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika will lock horns for a ninth time when the Wallabies host Argentina for his or her Rugby Championship conflict at CommBank Stadium this weekend.
Both sides are coming off humbling defeats, with Australia struggling a 43-12 loss to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Jones’ first project as Wallabies mentor. Meanwhile, Argentina have been toppled by the All Blacks 41-12 at house after conceding three tries within the opening quarter-hour.
The Pumas defeated Australia when the 2 nations beforehand confronted off – final yr’s 48-17 drubbing in San Juan – whereas Cheika has additionally masterminded wins over New Zealand and England throughout his temporary tenure.
Argentina’s historic one-point victory over England final yr, which finally led to Jones’ messy exit from the RFU, marked Cheika’s first Test conquer his former Randwick teammate.
However, Jones had beforehand received seven consecutive matches in opposition to Cheika between 2016 and 2019 after they coached England and Australia respectively, together with the World Cup quarter-final in Japan.
The fascinating rivalry resumes in western Sydney this Saturday night, with Jones main the Wallabies on house soil for the primary time in 18 years.
“I was just thinking about how fantastic it is for a coach of Argentina and a coach of Australia to come out of the Shute Shield, out of a fairly minor club, Randwick,” Jones advised reporters on Thursday.
“In the international game you‘ve got two coaches coming out of the local competition in Sydney, and it shows you the real value of club rugby.
“In Australia, rugby’s been based on club rugby and the more we can do to engender strong club rugby the better.”
Springboks spoil Jones’ Wallabies return | 01:30
Speaking to reporters in Sydney, Cheika endorsed Rugby Australia’s shock resolution to half methods with Dave Rennie and appoint Jones lower than 12 months earlier than a World Cup marketing campaign.
“Eddie’s a quality coach and I think that’s why Australia wanted to have him back because he can add a lot to the team here, and I’m sure he will,” Cheika stated.
“The biggest thing with Eddie is he‘s a competitor and he wants to win, and I’m pretty much the same.
“I thought it was a good call that Australia brought him back and I‘m sure it will be. As long as it’s not when we’re playing against them.”
Argentina will leapfrog Australia on world rankings in the event that they emerge victorious this weekend, whereas the Wallabies will climb to sixth in the event that they defeat the Pumas. If the Wallabies win Saturday night’s match, Australia would sit above England on the world rankings for the primary time since 2016.
“We‘re going to fire up on Saturday, there’s no excuse,” Jones stated.
“We‘re trying to create a squad that’s able to profitable the World Cup and that wins on Saturday.
“Every time you get to recreation time, it‘s about winning.”
Australia has made five changes to its starting XV ahead of the Argentina clash, with co-captain Michael Hooper (calf) and flanker Tom Hooper (shoulder) ruled out with injury.
Former Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu, who was sin-binned during last week’s defeat, has confronted the axe together with inside centre Reece Hodge and lock Nick Frost.
Fraser McReight will don the No. 7 jersey, partnering Jed Holloway at flanker, whereas second-rower Richie Arnold, who got here off the bench on Test debut final weekend, will pack down alongside fellow France-based lock Will Skelton.
Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawa has earnt a recall, whereas Samu Kerervi will begin within the centres alongside Len Ikitau.
Jones has endured with Nic White and Quade Cooper within the halves, whereas younger five-eighth Carter Gordon stays on the bench after scoring a attempt on Test debut final weekend.
“Carter’s coming through beautifully – I couldn’t be happier with him,” Jones stated.
“What I don’t want to do is throw him in. I want him to be ready to go.
“He’s a great young player, but he’s a young kid at the moment and he’s finding his feet.”
The Wallabies solely have 4 Tests scheduled earlier than their World Cup opener in opposition to Georgia on September 10, however Kerevi declared the squad was constructing properly in the direction of the marquee match.
“It’s a marathon. It’s not a full sprint,” Kerevi advised reporters earlier this week.
“We’ve got a deep squad so each game is an opportunity to get better.
“We were definitely disappointed with our performance on the weekend. South Africa outplayed us. It wasn’t good enough … and we’ve got to better this week.
“Even though it’s our first Test together, we still set ourselves really high standards and this weekend we’ve got to turn things around.
“We’ve got to put out a really good performance that our fans and our country will be proud of. We know what’s at stake and who we represent.”
There is a powerful risk Australia might come up in opposition to Argentina once more within the World Cup quarter-finals, however Cheika refused to look that far forward.
“It’s also possible I am going to win the lottery too,” he quipped.
“You never know what’s going to happen in the future. I would be a fool to be thinking like that. I am telling the lads just be your best day by day, and good things will happen for us. If I start thinking about stuff way down the track, then I am just a hypocrite.”
The Wallabies will face Argentina at CommBank Stadium on Saturday night at 7.45pm AEST.
Wallabies nonetheless consider regardless of loss | 00:55
WALLABIES XV
Tom Wright, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (c)
Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa‘amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon
PUMAS XV
Emiliano Boffelli, Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (c), Thomas Gallo
Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
