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'We're fully aware of what they're capable of': The Pumas stars the Wallabies need to shut down to avoid same fate as All Blacks

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

With Rugby Australia’s trophy cabinet as bare as their coffers, Wallabies captain Michael Hooper has highlighted the significance of landing the Tri Nations title.

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Victory over Argentina in Newcastle on Saturday night and then again the following week in Sydney will secure Australia the crown.

Bereft of the Bledisloe Cup since 2003 and with only two Rugby Championship triumphs in the past decade – 2011 and 2015 – the Wallabies are making no secret of their desperation to get their hands on some meaningful silverware.

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Healthspan Elite Performance of the Week | The Pumas star who out-tackled the All Blacks | Aotearoa Rugby Pod

“We’re aware there’s silverware on the line and you want to put that out there. We want to be aware of that,” Hooper said after Australia’s captain’s run in the Hunter Valley on Friday.

“We want to be in this position. We had the Bledisloe before and unfortunately we were unable to hold that up this year.

“And so this opportunity has arisen now and we’re doing everything we can now to make it happen.

“We want to be a team that is consistent and grows in the right direction and, with that, we make no bones about it that we want to put some silverware on in our closet again.

“We’re clear on what we’re trying to achieve and the pressure is on.”

But the Pumas proved in emphatic fashion with their rousing and historic victory over the All Blacks last Saturday that they are a force to be reckoned with.

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“We’re fully aware of what they’re capable of,” Hooper said.

“So you see a result like that, it doesn’t come as a surprise. It just confirms to us that this is what we’re preparing for.

“They were great in so many areas of the game, showed so much heart and were disciplined and they’ve got some really good players coming through and they’re going to be a threat tomorrow night.”

Hooper nominated his Pumas counterpart and inspirational blindside flanker Pablo Matera, who was immense against the All Blacks, and flyhalf and record-setting point-scorer Nicolas Sanchez as Argentina’s chief threats.

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“Matera’s been a world-class back-row player for many years now so it’s not a surprise to myself,” the skipper said.

“He’s a dangerous ball runner, he’s good over the ball so no surprises there. He’s the leader of their group.

“So I’m excited for the challenge.”

The passionate Pumas revelled in front of almost 10,000 fans at Bankwest Stadium last start and are again expected to rise to the occasion at a sold-out McDonald Jones Stadium.

Adding spice, former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika will be sitting alongside Pumas mentor Mario Ledesma as one of Argentina’s assistants.

“It’s going to be good. I’ve been really happy with ‘Cheik’ being in that role,” said Hooper, who played under Cheika for seven years in total at the NSW Waratahs and Wallabies, including two World Cups.

“He can offer a hell of a lot. He’s a great coach.”

 

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Ledesma has full respect for the Wallabies, who are backing up from their own win over the All Blacks.

“It’s a really balanced team,” Ledesma said.

“It’s been a couple of years already that they have an important set-piece – lineout, scrum, driving maul, and obviously offensive threats with the likes of (Hunter) Paisaimi or (Jordan) Petaia or Marika Koroibete.

“The threats are coming from many different places so we have to be spot on with our game plan and our kicking game and control the tempo of the game.”

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

You forget that this was the 3rd Test between the AB's and the English this year. They were prepared and they knew how to keep NZ quiet. The Boks is not NZ.


The Boks is a whole other level. You overestimate England and underestimate the Boks. Clearly you haven't really looked at the teams. Besides the Irish games earlier this year, the Boks have mainly used experimental sides, even against the AB's.


Now they have chosen their best team available. They have targeted this game. The Boks mean business. Man for man, this Bok team is better. In strategy and player abilities there is no comparison and they are outmatched.


There isn't just monster strength, but unreal speed. In broken play there is currently no better team as well as defensively, not to even talk about the attacking threat, both from front and the back.


I'd say read between the lines, see what everyone is seeing, but clearly you are wearing blinders and is also putting too much emphasis on an AB's team the Boks beat twice this year, the same AB's that beaten England 3 times this year.


When Rassie gets serious, the players become machines. There is no stopping them. That bench is loaded with players that is fast, strong and have exceptional skills. This is a team not many teams will face before the 2027 WC, because the Boks doesn't use their best between WC's in one game. All experimental.


You will be proven wrong on Saturday and then you will wonder how you could have been so wrong. This Bok team means serious business. They came to conquer and not just by a close score. They want to demolish and they will. This England team at most is a 60 min team. Against the Boks that just won't cut it

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H
Hellhound 1 hour ago
South Africa will beat England at a canter

Not bizarre, but needed. Everyone usually lifts their game against the Boks. Now instead of facing reality, they prefer to live in the past and look hopefully toward the score of the WC semi, hoping they can recreate that result and by some miracle snatch a victory.


It's better than the alternative knowing what is going to happen. Especially looking at the experimental squads the Boks put up against the Wallabies in the RC, not using their best team. That same Wallabies beat them last week.


Now the Boks isn't using an experimental squad. They put out as close to the strongest team the Boks have available at the moment. That must scare the pants off of them. If an experimental squad can destroy the Wallabies, what would the strongest team be able to do to the English?


Instead of sinking into dispear, they prefer to hope that their players can match the Boks. Even though they know what is coming. The English are scared and they won't show it.


Now imagine how Wales must feel knowing they are up next weekend? They don't even have the dubious record of at least close losses like the English. It's a complete nightmare for these 2 countries and rightly so.


The Boks usually take the pedal of the medal post WC's, but not this Bok team. They are better than the WC winning Boks of both '19 and '23. They are stronger up front. They are faster at the back. They can hit front and back. In broken play they are the most dangerous team. They have the best defence and attack also scoring the most tries.


In a way I feel sorry for both the English and Wales. Only those with blinders on expects a close game. Looking at both teams man to man, strategy to strategy, play to play, they are so outmatched it would be a joke if it wasn't so serious. We need the NH to be strong and we need the gap to become closer in rugby so the game stay exciting because runaway scores sometimes is fun, but it doesn't bring as much joy as a close game won.

14 Go to comments
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