1
'It’s gonna be a good day’: Pumas ‘feeling very good’ before Wallabies clash
On a perfect day in Greater Western Sydney, Los Pumas playmakers including Nicolas Sanchez and Emiliano Boffelli ran out onto CommBank Stadium as they continued to prepare for the Wallabies.
ADVERTISEMENT
With nobody in the stands – other than a few cleaners who were preparing the venue for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash – the kickers took shots at goal and passed the ball between themselves.
Tighthead prop Francisco Gomez Kodela, who is set to pack down opposite Wallabies captain James Slipper at scrum time, watched on from the sidelines.
Gomez Kodela is expecting a tough challenge against a big Wallabies pack, saying the set piece is going to be a “very big” factor for both sides.
With just over 24 hours to go until the Test, Gomez Kodela spoke with reporters on the sideline as the playmakers continued to ply their trade out in the middle.
“We’re feeling very good. We had a tough week against the All Blacks but it was a very good week of training and preparation here in Coogee,” the front rower said on Friday afternoon.
“It’s gonna be a good day for us tomorrow.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Much like the Wallabies, Los Pumas are coming off a disastrous loss.
Argentina opened their 2023 season against the All Blacks in Mendoza last weekend, and shot out of the blocks with a strong start.
The Pumas controlled possession for the opening four minutes of that contest, but then, the All Blacks beast woke up.
New Zealand went on a 31-point blitz in the first half, and never looked like surrendering their throughout the second term.
The visitors ended up winning that Test 41-12.
“When you (concede) 40 points, it’s not what you were planning but it’s part of the process. It’s the first game of our season,” he added.
ADVERTISEMENT
“We’re preparing for a big target, the World Cup, so there was no panic. We know what we did wrong and we’re trying to fix it.
“We acknowledge what we did wrong and we tried to fix as much as we can for tomorrow, even though it’s a different team, a different style of play.
“We’re gonna try to fix what we did wrong just to get a different outcome.”
The Wallabies’ loss to South Africa was very similar. Marika Koroibete opened the scoring in the eighth minute, but the world champions took control from there.
South Africa ended up winning 43-12 in Pretoria, where saw the Aussies fall to a losing start under new coach Eddie Jones.
“They’re an awesome team. It’s very difficult to play in South Africa against the Springboks so everything needs to be put in context.
“They must be hurt so it’s going to be a very big game tomorrow because we are the same.”
Argentina are full of confidence ahead of their clash with the Wallabies, as they prepare to take the field at a venue that they know very well.
During the pandemic, Los Pumas defeated the All Blacks for the first time ever at the Parramatta venue in 2020. Argentina has also drawn with the Wallabies there.
As Gomez Kodela put it, the team has “beautiful memories’ of their time in Sydney.
Argentina will take on Australia at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium at 7.45 pm AEST on Saturday evening. Earlier, the All Blacks host fierce rivals South Africa in South Auckland.
Comments on RugbyPass
Chief Cheapshot on the market again.
1 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to commentsquins is all over the place. The minute they get the ball they panic. Quins can still win tho just need to win all rucks otherwise just don't bother.
7 Go to commentsGreat wins for the male & female kiwi sides. Ireland not far away..
1 Go to commentsWhy is this dude getting so much coverage? Usually knobs like this get cancelled.
2 Go to comments