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Rennie savages Wallabies after dominant Argentina defeat | Latest Rugby News

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has expressed his frustration after a record defeat to Argentina in San Juan.

The visitors were dominated from siren to siren as Los Pumas cruised to a 48-17 win, looking like a side properly dealing with life without Michael Hooper and a near full XV of players.

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It caps off a fortnight that has seen multiple late changes and season-ending injuries to the likes of Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi as Rennie lambasted their inability to shut down the high ball.

“Massive disappointment. That’s not good enough,” coach Dave Rennie said after the match.

“We conceded four tries with kicks in-between us and got dominated in the collision area. We created plenty of opportunities but we have to be patient and our rucks not a disaster.

“We just weren’t clinical enough…we definitely lacked cohesion with a few changes. We’ll look at the footage but we’re better than that.

“It’s a massive disappointment. We want to earn the respect of the country but you don’t do it with performances like that.”

Captain James Slipper echoed these thoughts, giving credit to an Argentina side that were clinical with ball in hand as dominant in every facet of the game.

“Off the back of a good performance last week, we really wanted to back it up and we fell short of standards today,” captain James Slipper added.

“I thought the Argentineans were good today and got the momentum behind them from the crowd, they were a tough team to play catch-up footy against so full credit to them.

“We’re excited to get home, it’s been a really tough tour for us so we have the South Africans twice at home now which we’re really looking forward to and being back in front of our home fans.”

Rennie refused to use the growing injury list as an excuse as they were outclassed.

“We would (like to have a consistent team list) but we had a good enough side to do the job,” he believes.

“We gave them a few soft points early on and fought our way back into it. We have to better and we’ll get a few players back. Whoever puts the jersey on has to front but we weren’t good enough.”

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Five things we learned from Argentina vs Wallabies | Latest Rugby News

The Wallabies crashed 48-17 in San Juan this morning against an inspired Argentinian side which beat them in every area of ​​the game.

It was a stark lesson for the Wallabies, especially with their inability to deal with the contestable kicking game executed so well by the Pumas.

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Few stood tall in the Wallabies’ heaviest-ever loss to Argentina in the eToro Rugby Championship.

1 OUTKICKED, OUTPLAYED

The Wallabies were on the backfoot just 60 seconds into the Test when they botched a contestable high kick and conceded a 7-0 start.

Winger Jordan Petaia mopped up the ball but his poor short relay to Tom Wright was a hospital pass in the face of a rush of blue-and-white jerseys. The bobbling loose ball was turned into a Pumas try.

The Wallabies didn’t handle another high kick before half-time. Nic White had offered a shield to anyone prepared to leap for the ball on the full but no one did.

This time the ball bobbled off James O’Connor into Argentine arms. Try and a 26-10 half-time deficit.

There was a definite change of tactics in this kicking area by the Pumas. Backed up by the superior effort they put into getting in the air and chasing the late grubber kicks ahead, it paid off big time.

2 FULLBACK IS STILL AN ISSUE

This flows on from the kicking issue.

You need a fullback who commands the air and the Wallabies didn’t have one in San Juan.

Tom Wright has definite positives but he was found out a deal in this Test.

The Wallabies have to work this out because the South Africans will be pumping plenty of high, contestable kicks in Adelaide in a fortnight.

Another air raid is coming.

You might build a case for Petaia because he is excellent in the air but he’s a novice fullback.

Time for a specialist which means Jock Campbell.

3 ROB VALETINI STANDS TALL

Backrower Rob Valetini was one of the few Wallabies to throw some serious venom back at the Pumas.

His powerhouse charges off several creative lineout variations were rare highlights.

One huge run set up the James Slipper try. I have kept fronting up too.

Winger Marika Koroibete, with another fine try-saving tackle, and center Len Ikitau were two other Wallabies who came out of this disasterous result able to hold their heads high.

4 LACK OF COHESION

The injury toll has eaten away at the combinations the Wallabies had put time into building.

There was still a good enough Wallabies outfit on the field to win the Test but when the momentum of the Argentinians grew, the cracks appeared.

Two Wallabies defenders overtracked in defense off a scrum when they let Pumas center Jeronimo de la Fuente cut back on the angle to score almost untouched in the first half. That was poor.

The Nic White-Noah Lolesio combination in the halves works for the Brumbies because White dominates the playmaking in the partnership.

With James O’Connor beside White, the ball needed to be in O’Connor’s hands more although this was not an ideal game to judge.

5 DEBUTANT HOOKER

Young hooker Billy Pollard would never have imagined this Test debut even a few weeks ago.

We’ve been calling Pollard the hooker Australia has to have at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. He’s fast-tracked that trajectory in a big way.

He hit his first lineout target, made his first pass and got busy in his 15 minutes. It wo n’t be his last outing from him as a Test player.

From a dire Test, he’s a green shoot of promise.

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Argentina crushes the Wallabies 48-17 in the Rugby Championship at the Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan

The Pumas get revenge for last week’s Rugby Championship loss to the Wallabies, thrashing Australia in San Juan.

Look back at the action in our blog.

live updates

By Simon Smale

Dave Rennie: ‘We’re better than that’

Dave Rennie is speaking to Stan Sport.

“Massive disappointment,” he says.

“It’s not good enough.

“We conceded four tries with kicks in behind us and certainly got dominated in the collision area.

“We created opportunities but we’ve got to be patient our ruck is not a disaster and we just weren’t clinical enough.”

He says that the Wallabies lacked cohesion in the match and looked desperately frustrated, adding “We’re better than that.”.

“We want to earn the respect of the country and you’re never going to do that with performances like that.”

By Simon Smale

James Slipper: Wallabies ‘Probably fell short of standards’

Here’s the skipper, James Slipper.

“Clearly disappointed,” he says.

“Off the back of a good performance last week we wanted to back it up.

“Probably fell short of today’s standards.”

He says that the Argentinans were just the better team on the day.

“They got the momentum and the crowd behind them and they’re a tough team to play catch up football against,” he says.

With all teams sitting on one win each, Slipper says the Rugby Championship is even poised, but the Wallabies are excited to get home.

“I think we’re excited to get home. It’s been a really tough tour for us.”

By Simon Smale

Key Event

Argentina beat Wallabies 48-17

Wow, what a stunning result and a brutal scoreline for the Wallabies to stomach.

The Wallabies were tactically outclassed by former coach Michael Chieka and there’s no hiding it.

The Argentinians kicking out of hand was better, the breakdown was better and they capitalized on the big moments better than the Wallabies.

It’s the biggest ever win by Argentina over Australia.

By Simon Smale

Key Event

80+2′ What a try Argentina!

Oh that’s magnificent from both Tomas Cubelli and try-scorer Tomas Albornoz.

Cubelli took the ball off the back of the scrum and darted through a gap, chipping ahead and that allowed Albornoz to collect and score.

The kick is successful and it’s 48-17!

By Simon Smale

Man of the Match: Thomas Gallo

The player of the match has just been announced to a raucous ovation.

It’s the Argentina prop, Thomas Gallo off the back of his two-try performance.

By Simon Smale

Key Event

78′ Try Argentina!

Lovely try to seal the win from Emiliano Boffelli!

The Wallabies lost the ball at a ruck and then Lucio Cinti put boot to ball, rolling it in behind and Boffelli ran around Markia Koroibete to dot down the bobbling in the corner.

The kicking game has been superior all day, the Wallabies have been punished for mistakes, and that’s the game in a microcosm.

By Simon Smale

77′ Wallabies scrum

Argentina were pushing for another score but lost the ball forward thanks to some solid Wallabies defense on their right edge.

By Simon Smale

74′ Penalty Argentina

Reece Hodge is on and his first involvement is to tackle an Argentinian in the air from another up and under contestable kick.

Argentina put a couple more phases together but we’ll come back for that infringement on half way.

They’ll kick for the corner and have a lineout on the 22.

By Simon Smale

72′ Penalty Argentina

The Wallabies were on the charge, looking to build some phases but Ikitau threw the ball over the line while being tackled and it will be an Argentina line out.

Nope, it will be a penalty, Tate McDermott pinged for a push off the ball as frustrations boil over.

By Simon Smale

69′ Argentina penalty!

Oh the Wallabies can’t keep their discipline!

The ruling is that the Wallabies did not release the ball in the tackle and the hosts get a relieving penalty.

By Simon Smale

67′ 50:22 from Tait McDermott!

Oh that will help the cause!

What a kick from the Queensland scrumhalf!

If the Wallabies score from here, a lineout on the five meters, then things could get very interesting!

By Simon Smale

Key Event

65′ Try Wallabies!

Len Ikitau dives over after being tackled – he popped back to his feet and strolled over the line unapposed.

So that’s the application from the referee just as with the previous try.

Funny, the commentators aren’t nearly as unhappy with that decision…

Can the Wallabies launch a comeback?

By Simon Smale

64′ Wallabies subs

I haven’t mentioned every sub, but Billy Pollard is on. Great story there, the Brumbies hooker has had a hell of a journey to get to Argentina on time and he comes on to make his Test debut.

By Simon Smale

Key Event

64′ Try Argentina!

11 phases of precise and incisive play by the Argentinians get the reward it deserves.

Thomas Gallo looked like he was tackled short, perhaps the referee said he hadn’t been held, but he got up and dove over the line…

Hmmm, not sure about that on replay, but the officials were happy.

There were two penalties in the move through against Fraser McReight we heard the referee say, adding that the Reds man going to be sent to the bin.

The conversion is good and the lead is now 26, Argentina 36-10 ahead.

By Simon Smale

62′ Penalty Argentina

The Wallabies are really struggling to beat this blue and white defensive line, being forced to kick deep while the Argentinians have time to kick high and contest

Rob Valentini closed the gap that Juan Cruz Mallia tried to run into, and gives away the penalty by blocking him.

Again, the commentators seem to think that Valentini didn’t close that gap, but I don’t think they’re quite right. He didn’t do much, admittedly, but he did close out that lane for him to run in to.

Argentina kick deep for a lineout.

By Simon Smale

58′ Knock on Argentina

Oh the Wallabies get away with one there.

Argentina were flooding forward again, Matias Moroni with a decent run initially.

There was an intercept thrown to Petaia, who almost apologetically gave it straight back to the Argentinians.

Taniela Tupou put a thumping tackle in the midfield that barely interrupted the Pumas’ mometum.

A chip in behind isolated James O’Connor and the Argentinans counterrucked to win the turnover, but then knocked the ball on five meters out from the Wallabies line.

By Simon Smale

55′ Penalty Argentina

The Wallabies are caught offside as Argentina flood forward with some nice passing plays.

The hosts are swarming all over the breakdown to create that quick ball which resulted in the offside penalty.

The penalty is just inside the Wallabies half, but they’ll kick for touch this time.

By Simon Smale

Key Event

53′ Penalty goal Argentina!

The Argentinians kicked deep straight away off the lineout after seeing a big gap in behind.

The Wallabies get back through Tom Wright but as he runs the ball back he gets isolated.

The kick from the ten-meter line is good from Emiliano Boffelli and the gap is out to 19 points, 29-10.

By Simon Smale

52′ Wallabies turn the ball over

Some good ball movement right and left from the Wallabies but then a pass out the back goes behind and it will be out for a lineout, that Argentina takes quickly.

By Simon Smale

50′ Penalty Argentina

Gee, the last couple of scrums have been all over the place.

That one moved sideways at a rate of knots before Taniela Tupou was pinged.

They kick up towards halfway.

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Michael Hooper withdraws from Wallabies squad for Argentina Rugby Championship Tests

Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper has withdrawn from Australia’s tour of Argentina for personal reasons.

Rugby Australia released a statement saying Hooper, 30, would return to Australia.

The Wallabies kick off their Rugby Championship campaign against Los Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday morning (AEST).

The statement said the 121-Test veteran is “not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time.”

“While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time,” Hooper said.

“My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”

Experienced prop James Slipper will captain the side in Hooper’s stead in Mendoza, with Reds flanker Fraser McReight stepping in at open side.

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said his skipper had shown “true courage” to make the “difficult decision” to step aside.

“Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached,” Rennie said.

“He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it.

“We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done.”

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Media Statement: Michael Hooper | Latest Rugby News

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has withdrawn from tomorrow’s Test and will be returning to Australia due to personal reasons.

The 121-Test openside flanker believes he’s not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time.

He has addressed his teammates to tell them and that he has the utmost confidence in the group to get the job done tomorrow in Mendoza.

Fellow Test centurion James Slipper will lead the side in Mendoza tomorrow afternoon (local time), while Fraser McReight will replace Hooper in the number seven jersey.

Wallabies captain Michael Hooper said: “While this decision did not come easily I know it is the right one for me and the team at this point in time.”

“My whole career I’ve looked to put the team first and I don’t feel I am able to fulfill my responsibilities at the moment in my current mindset.”

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “Michael’s one of the most professional and impressive men I’ve coached I know this has been a difficult decision for him.”

“He’s shown true courage by acknowledging where he is at and acting on it.

“We will support him in any way we can and I know the team will be focused on getting the job done tomorrow.”

Rugby Australia CEO Andy Marinos said: “Michael is an incredible leader, it takes a brave man to identify where he’s at and come forward whilst having the best interests of the team at heart.”

“His wellbeing is and remains the highest priority right now where Rugby Australia and the Australian Rugby community will do everything to support him and his family.”

Rugby Australia requests Michael and his family’s privacy is respected at this time.

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Holloway to debut for Wallabies against Argentina | Latest Rugby News

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has confirmed Jed Holloway will make his debut against Argentina in Mendoza.

Holloway will start at blindside flanker alongside Michael Hooper and Rob Valetini in the opening round of the Rugby Championship.

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The 29-year-old has been a revelation since returning from Japan, overcoming a calf injury that kept him out of the England series.

He is joined by Rebels prop Matt Gibbon, also in line for his debut via the bench.

Gibbon slots into the side after strong showings for Australia A, with Angus Bell (toe) and Scott Sio (neck/shoulder) ruled out.

“We’ve had a strong week of preparation over here in Argentina and we are highly motivated to put on a performance that makes our supporters proud back home in Australia,” Rennie said in a statement.

“It’s an extremely special occasion for Jed, Matt and their families and it’s up to the rest of us to make sure it’s a positive memory on their Test debuts.”

The Wallabies have received further boosts with Quade Cooper (calf) and Jordan Petaia (concussion) cleared to return.

Cooper slots into the halves alongside Nic White for his first Test of 2022, sensationally ruled out of the England series opener in the warm-up.

Meanwhile, Petaia slots onto the wing, with Rennie opting for Tom Wright at fullback after strong showings against England

His Reds teammate Hunter Paisami shifts to inside center after a season-ending injury to Samu Kerevi (knee), with Len Ikitau elevated from the bench.

Darcy Swain makes his return from suspension, partnering Matt Philip in the second-row whilst Nick Frost holds out Rory Arnold for a spot on the bench.

However, Dave Porecki (concussion) will not feature, with Folau Fainga’a slated to start and Lachlan Lonergan to come off the bench.

Lonergan is joined on the bench by Taniela Tupou as Allan Alaalatoa returns to the starting side.

“Argentina will be full of confidence after their home series win over Scotland and we know we’ll need to be at our best to get a good result on Saturday afternoon,” Rennie added.

1. James Slipper (117 Tests)

2. Folau Fainga’a (28 Tests)

3. Allan Alaalatoa (55 Tests)

4. Darcy Swain (11 Tests)

5. Matt Philip (23 Tests)

6. Jed Holloway*

7. Michael Hooper (c) (121 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (21 Tests)

9. Nick White (50 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (75 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (45 Tests)

12. Hunter Paisami (17 Tests)

13. Len Ikitau (15 Tests)

14. Jordan Petaia (18 Tests)

15. Tom Wright (12 Tests)

replacements

16. Lachlan Lonergan (4 Tests)

17. Matt Gibbon*

18. Taniela Tupou (40 Tests)

19. Nick Frost (2 Tests)

20. Rob Leota (9 Tests)

21. Pete Samu (22 Tests)

22. Jake Gordon (12 Tests)

23. Reece Hodge (55 Tests)

*denotes uncapped

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