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Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images
Veteran Wallaby James O’Connor has suffered a new injury and will not face the Pumas in form on Saturday night.
Larrikin Wallabies winger Ned Hanigan is treating Argentina as a serious threat in Saturday’s Three Nations Test, and is convinced it won’t come flat after New Zealand’s historic defeat last weekend.
The Pumas beat the All Blacks for the first time last Saturday, assisted in the training area by former Wallabies mentor Michael Cheika.
MARTIN DE RUYTER
The Black Ferns and Barbarians rugby teams are welcomed at Nelson’s Whakatū Marae.
The result has opened the Tri Nations tournament wide open ahead of Saturday’s clash in Newcastle, after the Wallabies snapped a losing streak against the Kiwis the week before.
Hanigan received his first test cap from Cheika three years ago and was not surprised by what he saw.
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“Having Cheik on the team, he has that motivating aspect and knows Australian rugby very well, so he will definitely be an asset (on Saturday),” Hanigan said.
“He loves to win … he hates to lose and he loves to win so I think he’s getting both.”
Freewheeling Argentina, powered by an impressive forward pack, has teased the Wallabies in the past when given the chance.
Anthony Au-Yeung / Getty Images
Ned Hanigan of the Wallabies takes a break during the Bledisloe Cup game against the All Blacks in Auckland on October 18.
With Argentina’s tail already up, the unforced errors Hanigan knows could cost them again as the Wallabies look to turn their loss at the All Blacks’ last start two weeks ago into a habit.
“The passion and pride they have in the jersey; you could see the reaction after the game,” he said.
“That energy on the field that you keep building with the guy who is by his side, the key is that we don’t give them the opportunity to have those kinds of moments.
“In past games we have probably thrown the pass from behind … that sort of thing just allows momentum to keep building in favor of the opposition.”
Australian coach Dave Rennie could avoid a selection headache for the Newcastle clash, as his first pick, number 10 James O’Connor, will likely be unavailable for testing due to a new foot injury.
The Queensland playmaker had started the first two tryouts with Rennie before a knee injury caused Noah Lolesio and Reece Hodge to fill their boots in subsequent games.
It means Hodge, who just played a good hand in his loss to the All Blacks, has the inside running to retain the number 10 for the first time in his career despite Lolesio’s strong cameo from the bench in the same game.
Elsewhere, rookie mainstay Angus Bell will face Scott Sio for the opening role vacated by James Slipper.
The 20-year-old, whose father Mark also played for Australia, replaced Slipper late in the first half after the 100-test pillar dislocated his elbow.
“It was better if they fired me. Without thinking, just about that,” Bell said of his early entry.
“It was the best week of my life, very special … an incredible day and (there was) no advice (from dad); just try as hard as you can.”
