Australia v Argentina: Rugby Championship match betting preview, tip, TV details

TV: Sky Sports Action, 10.45am Saturday

Australia have won their last five Tests in Brisbane including two triumphs over South Africa and a 23-18 success over the All Blacks, but Argentina still look worth a wager with a five-point start at Suncorp Stadium.

The Pumas beat the Wallabies 23-19 down the M1 on the Gold Coast in last year's Rugby Championship and there has been no sign of disappointment at missing out on a historic win over New Zealand in Buenos Aires last Saturday in their media conferences this week.

Nor should there be any disappointment at last week's loss.

Argentina were excellent for huge swathes of the 20-16 defeat to the Kiwis, only conceding an intercept try on the stroke of half-time to allow Steve Hansen's side to establish a 20-9 lead, and they were pressing for a winning try on the All Blacks' line in added time when penalised for a breakdown offence.

Head coach Mario Ledesma has kept his changes to a minimum - five, one enforced in losing Agustin Creevy to injury - and brought in seasoned, high-quality campaigners so the solid defensive structures shown and continuity of phase play enjoyed should remain in place. New Bordeaux signing Santiago Cordero, for example, was scintillating for Exeter last season.

By contrast, Australia have to pick themselves up from a heavy 35-17 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg where they were second-best in all facets of the game. Head coach Michael Cheika is continuing to examine his combinations for the World Cup with a new back-three, a new half-back partnership and a new front row.

The Wallabies were far from woeful at Ellis Park and most of the men Cheika has called-up to his squad are high-calibre performers with incentive to impress. But squandered opportunities and outcries at the officiating suggest morale in the camp is still not mended after Israel Folau's sacking and a year in the doldrums.

The Springboks punched holes at will around the breakdown, an area where the Pumas traditionally prosper, and Ledesma's cheeky suggestion in midweek that skipper and ace back-rower Pablo Matera would love a move to the Waratahs even though he has just signed a long-term deal with Stade Francais also reflects how comfortable his players are with Australian opponents and playing down under.

Most of his squad play for last month's Super Rugby runners-up Jaguares, who have won their last six meetings with Australian franchises including a thumping success over the Brumbies in the Buenos Aires semi-final and have been victorious on all six Australian outings in the three seasons since joining the competition.

Recommendation
Argentina +5
2pts Evs Hills
Bet on this market with William Hill here

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