Key events
34 min: Argentina will have a five-metre scrum after outstanding work from Carreras off the line-out. At first receiver, he steps up and then dinks a kick over the rush defence. It bounces on and he chases. Lonergan mops up just before the try line but Carreras and a few pals tackle him over into the goal area. Great platform now for the Pumas to strike, right in front of the poles, they can go left or right here.
32 min: This time Gordon finds touch with a great clearing kick from inside his own 22. Efficient exit play there. But Argentina get a penalty advantage off the resulting line-out just inside halfway. Someone in gold jumped across at the set piece. That’s a bit of a coach killer, that. So Carreras will boot this back towards the Australian 22.
31 min: Argentina go short at the line-out again. Isgro and Cruz play a little one-two around the fringe of the ruck which almost breaks the Australian line, but the defence scrambles back and forces a knock-on on the Wallabies 22. Good defence from the visitors so far. They’re hanging tough off the ball.
29 min: After Gordon’s kick failed to find touch, Prisciantelli caught his own up and under. Keeping the ball alive, Carreras goes to the line himself but they run out of road down the right. Australia get the the line-out throw and just about get away with it after things got messy for Lonergan at the back. They keep their cool and manage to get their relieving kick away.
27 min: Wenger loses his rag as he gets into an off the ball tussle with Canham. That is out of frsutration as his team failed to convert another red zone entry from the line-out. Australia’s defence holds firm before Valetini wins a turnover on his own line then hacks a clearing kick away. Argentina have it back but run out of room down the left tram. That’s when Wenger shoved Canham with both players in touch, giving away a penalty which Gordon hoofs down town. He doesn’t find touch though so here come the Pumas again.
Yellow card! Australia (Potter, 25)
Harry Potter has been sent to Azkaban!
Sorry, couldn’t help it. After Argentina won a penalty advantage from their maul 10 out from the left corner, they flung it down the line Potter rushed up to pressure Valarolo in midfield but recklessly flung his hands out to a pass. He was nowhere near close enough to hold on and walked off before turning to face the ref. He knew he’d receive his marching orders for 10 minutes.
22 min: Argentina need a response and they have the ball back inside Australia’s 22 after the restart. They work the blind down the left. Cruz then hits Matera who carries within a few. They go right then left down the short side and come close again. Are they over? No! Held up. How can anyone tell through the morass of bodies. Lavanini argues his case, believing the ball was down. Nope says the ref. Still Argentina have the penalty advantage and Carreras kicks to the corner.
TRY! Argentina 7-17 Australia (McReight, 20)
They’re over! Argentina stop the maul legally but they give away another penalty for offside. Australia keep it tight, hammering the line after the maul splinters. There’s no stopping the no-necked McReight from that range. He burrows over and dots down. Lonergan adds the extras to open a healthy gap.
19 min: Another penalty from Argentina as Australia maul. Ben O’Keefe gives Matera a warning that another one will result in a penalty try. Gordon keeps the pressure on by kicking out to touch.
18 min: Canham hauls down the line-out and the maul gets to work. A Puma tries to stop it by entering from the side so Australia have the advantge. Gordon flings it right for Wright who steps in and then out before passing to Jorgensen. He’s wrapped up so they come back infield but the Pumas defence holds so we’ll come back for the pen. Once again Gordon nudgdes it into touch five out from the left corner.
15 min: That really was a brilliant try from Argentina. Is there a more hot-and-cold team in word rugby?
Now they’ve given away a penalty shortly after the restart. Or is that a penalty won by Canham who absolutely clattered Ruiz to allow Hooper an opportunity to steal. Gordon finds good touch in the corner.
TRY! Argentina 7-12 Australia (Prisciantelli, 14)
The Pumas hit back immediately! Short off the line-out on halfway, they set things up in midfield with a thumping carry from Valarolo. Second phases and they get to work, Cruz fakes a shift right before going back towards the left where Carreras hits a gap and unleashes Isgro. Prisciantelli is on hand to keep things moving and he saunters through the fragmented line from 10 out.
The conversion is good and the gap is narrowed.
TRY! Argentina 0-10 Australia (Gordon, 11)
The Wallabies are flying! Off the line-out they work it through the heavies. Jorgensen hits the line and that sucks in a couple of defenders, creating space back down the blind on the right. Gordon spots the open space, taking on two tacklers and shows great strength to get over and the ball down.
This time the conversion from Lonergan is good.
10 min: Jorgensen makes a great chase, puts pressure on the Argentina sweeper after a long raking Gordon kick and wins a penalty. He timed his tackle on Mendy perfectly. Brilliant from Jorgensen and now the Wallabies are throwing to the line five out.
TRY! Argentina 0-5 Australia (Paenga-Amosa, 8)
Brutal from the big boys! Slick off the line-out, Valetini hammers the line at pace. More big hits and then quick hands from some heavies, including Hooper at first reciever down the blind on the left to free up Canham space. Williams also heavily involved in that. It was his little offload that found his hooker in support who gathered from a standing start to twist and down down.
The conversion, though, is missed.
5 min: Big statement from the Wallabies pack! Scrum penalty at the first time of asking. Kailea getting the back slaps as Moreno popped up. Gordon’s kick to touch is a good one, over halfway.
4 min: Good ambition from Cruz. Had that gone to hand Argentina might have been away down the left wing. Instead we’ll have our first scrum – Aussie feed – after the knock on.
3 min: More sloppiness from Argentina. They give away a soft free kick at the line-out following the penalty. Australia then exit but the Pumas are back on it as they win the first contestable kick. Now down the blind Cruz snipes but Australia win it back as the off-load doesn’t find a teammate.
2 min: Argentina spill the kick-off and the Wallabies are on the ball. THey keep it for two minutes before McReight finds room down the left tram but then Carreras stoops in to make the steal. There’s a high shot from an Aussie – Paenga-Amosa I think – so the Pumas get an easy exit after holding firm.
Kick-off
Gordon gets us underway!
After Australia’s anthem it’s Argentina’s retort.
I’ve never seen it played this way before. Traditional instruments, including what I’m guessing is a quena.
Tears from the players and in the crowd. That was cool.
There are soccer markings on the field that looks a little ragged.
I did say this feels a little off-Broadway.
Still, once the whistle sounds I reckon it’ll be a belter.
It’s 7th (Argentina) v 8th (Australia) according to World Rugby’s rankings.
Dave Rennie, New Zealand’s coach, basically said the rankings are nonsense.
I disagree. Not the first thing Rennie and myself have diverted on this week.
How will altitude impact the players?
San Salvador de Jujuy sits at roughly 1,250 metres above sea level – about 4,130 feet. It is noticeable altitude, especially combined with heat, but nowhere near the extreme conditions of La Paz.
Still, every metre counts.
The tale of the tape:
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This will be the 44th Test between Argentina and Australia. The Wallabies lead the head-to-head 30-10, with three matches drawn.
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In Argentina, Australia lead 10-6, with one draw.
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Australia have won five of the last 10 meetings; Argentina have won three, with two draws.
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The most recent meeting ended in a record 67-27 victory for Argentina in Santa Fe in September 2024.
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Argentina’s 67 points in that match were the most Australia had ever conceded in a Test.
Jack Snape has been busy.
Here are two pieces from him as we build towards kick-off:
Argentina team
Argentina have named an unchanged starting XV for their first Test against Australia in Jujuy, keeping faith with the side that pushed South Africa close in Buenos Aires earlier this month.
Pablo Matera again captains the Puma and Santiago Carreras – one of my favourite players – retains the No 10 jersey, with Simón Benítez Cruz continuing at scrum-half.
The backline is unchanged, with Gerónimo Prisciantelli at fullback and Rodrigo Isgró and Ignacio Mendy on the wings. Lucio Cinti partners Faustino Sánchez Valarolo in midfield.
Joaquín Moro starts at No 8, with Benjamin Grondona and Matera completing the back row. Tomás Lavanini and Guido Petti continue in the second row, while Francisco Moreno, Ignacio Ruiz and Boris Wenger make up the front row.
There are two changes on the bench. Dragons prop Rodrigo Martínez returns to the Test squad for the first time in five years, while Nicolás Roger provides additional backline cover. Argentina have opted for a five-three split among the replacements.
Julian Montoya, who usually skippers, is one of several senior players not considered due to club commitments. That group also includes Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, and Marcos Kremer.
Argentina: 15 Gerónimo Prisciantelli; 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz; 8 Joaquín Moro, 7 Benjamin Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Moreno, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 1 Boris Wenger.
Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Rodrigo Martínez, 18 Tomás Rapetti, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Juan Penoucos, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Nicolás Roger, 23 Matías Moroni.
Australia team
Australia have completely reshaped their pack with Allan Alaalatoa taking over the captaincy from the rested Harry Wilson.
The Brumbies prop will lead the Wallabies for the seventh time, while Isaac Kailea returns to the starting side for his first Test since 2024. Brandon Paenga-Amosa starts at hooker, with Alaalatoa completing an entirely new front row.
Rob Valetini moves to No 8, with Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight selected on the flanks. Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams reunite in the second row.
There is continuity behind the pack, with Ryan Lonergan and Carter Gordon retained at half-back and Hunter Paisami and Isaac Henry continuing in midfield. Harry Potter and Max Jorgensen remain on the wings, with Tom Wright at fullback.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii returns from injury but starts on the bench, where he offers Australia another powerful option in the backline. Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson also provide experience among the replacements.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright; 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Harry Potter; 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan; 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Tom Hooper, 5 Jeremy Williams, 4 Josh Canham, 3 Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Isaac Kailea.
Replacements: 16 Billy Pollard, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Charlie Cale, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Ever been sat at the kid’s table at a wedding?
This isn’t quite that, but there is a sense that this is off-Broadway as the Springboks and All Blacks busy themselves in their own personal tussle.
With the Rugby Championship on ice for the self-aggrandising Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour, this is a chance for Argentina and Australia to prove they don’t belong on the scrapheap.
Does that put pressure on the sides, or take it off? We’ll find out as a developing Puma side with a propensity to self destruct takes on Les Kiss’s Aussies.
Whatever transpires I hope it’s a good spectacle. Not often a game of footy carries importance beyond the boundary but this is one of them. A message needs to be sent that will be heard in Cape Town and Auckland.
Will it land? We’ll find out when things kick off at 4pm local time/5am AEST.
Teams and updates to come.
