Welcome to live coverage of the Wallabies vs Argentina from Mendoza. Follow all the live action in our blog below!
The Michael Hooper-less Wallabies have it all to in the second half in Mendoza, with the visitors trailing Michael Cheika’s Argentina Pumas 19-10.
Without their captain, the Wallabies started slowly with their discipline, ball security and clearing kicks poor.
The Wallabies trailed 7-0 after a try to Pablo Matera, which came after Nic White and Quade Cooper failed to clear their own line from the opening kick.
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Three points to Cooper settled down proceedings, but Argentina managed to restore their converted try margin soon after.
Some Cooper magic sent Jordan Petaia over to score, before the Wallabies returned to their ill-discipline ways as Emiliano Boffelli added another two penalties to give the Pumas a 19-10 lead at half-time.
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Jordan Petaia scores a try against Argentina at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas on August 06, 2022 in Mendoza, Argentina. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
Fraser McReight is playing in the No.7 jersey following Hooper’s withdrawal on the eve of the Rugby Championship opener.
The Reds No.7 is one of eight changes to the starting side, which is missing hooker Dave Porecki and center Samu Kerevi.
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Jordan Petaia, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga’a, James Slipper (c)
Reservations: Lachlan Lonergan, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge
COUGARS (15-1): Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Cordero, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Carreras, Tomas Cubelli, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (c), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Reservations: Agustin Creevy, Thomas Gallo, Joel Sclavi, Santiago Grondona, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Albornoz, Matias Moroni
The Wallabies’ worst fears have been realized, with Samu Kerevi expected to miss the rest of the year due to a knee injury.
It’s understood Kerevi, 28, suffered an ACL injury during Australia’s narrow 7-5 victory over Kenya in their Commonwealth Games pool match over the weekend.
Kerevi took no further part in Australia’s campaign, where John Manenti’s side lost in the semi-finals to South Africa.
Rugby Australia had been cagey about details regarding Kerevi, eager not to let the cat out of the bag.
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Kerevi told reporters he felt “alright” and added “I’m always confident [to be fit to play] but I’ll get a doc on it and see. It was just a big bang but then once it settled down it was fine.”
But the Suntory center is expected to miss the remainder of the year, with sources confirming the 41-Test center is expected to spend at least six months on the sidelines.
Kerevi is said to be devastated, believing he has let his teammates down.
The Wallabies were happy for Kerevi to take part of Australia’s sevens campaign after the former Queensland Reds captain made a promise to his teammates from the Tokyo Olympics that he would try and help them win gold in Birmingham.
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Samu Kerevi was injured at the Commonwealth Games. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
“It was a tough decision in the end but I gave my word to these boys, if I was available to be back I’d be back here,” Kerevi told news corp in the lead-up to the Games.
“I’m blessed enough to be in this position and get selected for these Games. I’m pretty ecstatic about that.
“It’s pretty special to be part of this group and to represent Australia. It’s something I’ll always, always remember.
“But more than just participating, we want to be here and do well and win a medal – win a gold medal. That’s our goal and the boys are working hard towards that.”
After featuring in the No.12 jersey in all three Tests against England in July, Kerevi was always set to miss the opening two matches of The Rugby Championship against Michael Cheika’s Argentina because of his Commonwealth Games commitments.
The world class center was to link back with the squad ahead of the home Tests against the Springboks later this month, but that won’t be the case now.
There was an inherent risk about returning to the sevens program, particularly with the added miles in the legs required to succeed in the abbreviated game, but Wallabies coach Dave Rennie would have been sweating on his fitness, such is his importance to the team.
Speaking at the Wallabies’ squad announcement last month, Rennie said Kerevi had his blessing to play at the tournament and added that it would have only changed were they stretched to the limit in the centres.
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“Obviously Samu going away to the sevens, to the Commonwealth Games, we thought that was really important,” Rennie said.
“The initial talks we had a few months ago was if we got injuries maybe we wouldn’t let him go, but it’s important for our country to send away a strong side that’s got a chance of winning a medal – and the sevens boys have been going well of late and Samu will only add to that, so we’re committed to that.
“With Izzy Perese out injured, he’s (Irae Simone) coming in just to fill a role in the Argentinian tour and we’ll get Samu back after that.”
Kerevi’s long-term injury will put extra pressure on Hunter Paisami to perform, with the Reds center likely to wear the No.12 jersey against Los Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST).
Quade Cooper, meanwhile, is firming for a recall to the starting side, having missed the 2-1 series loss to England after suffering a calf injury during warm-up ahead of the opening Test.
Kerevi’s absence will allow Rennie to see how Cooper operates without his battering ram on the outside.
While Cooper won all five matches he featured in last year for the Wallabies, he benefitted from having Kerevi in the midfield who acted as the great foil on his outside.
Now without the muscle of Kerevi to steady the ship if necessary Cheika’s Pumas will undoubtedly target Cooper and try and take away his space.
Argentina are coming off a thrilling 2-1 series victory against Scotland, in what was Cheika’s first Tests as coach after taking over from Mario Ledesma earlier in the year.
