The Rugby Championship will conclude this weekend and the Wallabies will attempt to salvage some pride and dignity when they face Argentina in Mendoza on Sunday morning.
Nothing short of a comfortable win is required for the Wallabies to finish better than last, but they are sure to face plenty of resistance from an Argentinian side that ground out a nice win in Australia two weeks ago.
Having produced another decent performance against the All Blacks last week, Argentina remain $1.75 favourites to defeat Australia ($2.10) in Week 6 of the Rugby Championship.
Australia
Signs were good when the Wallabies went blow for blow with the All Blacks in the first half of their first Rugby Championship test with the All Blacks, but there hasn’t been a whole lot to smile about since and they will carry a 1-4 record into Sunday morning’s fixture.
A tough win over the Springboks in Brisbane was immediately forgotten when Michael Cheika’s men failed to make up the difference against Argentina on the Gold Coast, before another disappointing loss in South Africa last weekend.
The Wallabies’ inability to capitalise on a Springboks’ yellow card more than summed up their season as they completed only eleven phases during the ten minutes that winger Aphiwe Dyantyi was on the sideline while also suffering a penalty, making three handling errors, losing the ball once in a lineout and twice at the breakdown.
There were some promising signs in the Wallabies’ first-half in Port Elizabeth, but they have simply been unable to put together an 80-minute performance and would surely need to muster their best showing of the season to take the win in Mendoza.
Argentina
Argentina have continued to build in confidence and ability since joining the Rugby Championship and they have enjoyed easily their best campaign to date in 2018, though they are still a chance of finishing fourth.
A competitive performance against South Africa in Week 1 was franked when they turned the tables on the Springboks a week later, while they managed to push the All Blacks all the way in New Zealand.
The confidence from that result was obvious when they choked the Wallabies out of the contest on the Gold Coast and there was still plenty to like about their performance against the World Champions last weekend, despite finishing on the wrong end of a 17-35 score line.
They will need to remain composed if they are to secure their third win of the 2018 Rugby Championship, particularly against a Wallabies side that will be eager to respond.
2018 Rugby Championship Betting
Argentina rarely start as favourites in head-to-head Rugby Championship betting, but they have opened at $1.75 to beat the Wallabies ($2.10) on Sunday. The line for this match is only set at 1.5 points and if Los Pumas are to win, backing them at the spread really does look like the better options.
There’s value around both Argentina and Australia in Week 6 Rugby Championship betting and I am happy to give the Wallabies one last chance as outsiders.
Tip: Wallabies to Win ($2.10)