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‘It was funny’: Wallaby Jed Holloway ready for ‘world-class’ Pablo Matera
Jed Holloway will run out onto CommBank Stadium for his first Wallabies appearance in more than 230 days this weekend, and a tough challenge awaits the flanker out in the middle.
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After missing out on selection for the Wallabies’ opening match of The Rugby Championship – which they lost by an emphatic margin against South Africa – Holloway has earned a promotion.
The Wallabies announced their side to take on Michael Cheila’s Pumas outfit earlier this week, and Holloway was named at blindside flanker.
The Waratahs enforcer will lineup alongside rising star Fraser McReight and world-class backrower Rob Valetini in a new-look Wallabies loose forward trio.
But Holloway faces an extremely tough matchup on Saturday.
Los Pumas have named a formidable back row as well, which includes Super Rugby champion Pablo Matera at blindside flanker.
Despite the scoreline, Matera was impressive during Argentina’s loss to the All Blacks in Mendoza last weekend – not that that’s a surprise.
Matera is world-class, and has been brilliant for quite some time.
“It’s exciting mate, it’s really exciting. I actually played against Pablo in the Australian Under 20s,” Holloway remembered.
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“It was funny, I was watching them play on the same field, I think it was against Ireland when the weather was exactly the same, and Pablo put on a clinic that day.
“He’s a competitor, he fires into everything, he’s super skilful. I’ve got to match him in the areas that I’m good at; set-piece-wise, ball carry and physicality.
“We’re different players but as you said, he’s world-class. I’m excited to put myself to that standard.”
Matera will take his place at blindside flanker this weekend, and joins Santiago Grondona and Juan Martin Gonzalez in a powerful backrow.
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Los Pumas will be led by Julian Montoya out onto the field in Parramatta, and joins the likes of Francisco Gomez Kodela and Tomas Lavanini in the forwards.
This is an experienced forward pack, and a talented one too. They’ll be desperate to make amends following their loss to the All Blacks last weekend – and the Wallabies expect nothing less.
Following the Wallabies’ captain’s run at the stadium on Friday, assistant coach Neal Hatley revealed he rates the Pumas “pretty highly” compared to forward packs around the world.
“Last week they struggled a bit so knowing a bit about Michael Cheika I’m sure there’ll be some bounce back as well,” Hatley said.
“We expect them to come out and be very physical. I think they’ve done exceptionally well over the last two or three years on the back of how physical their forwards pack’s been, and even their backs.
“You know what you’re getting so it’s going to be a great challenge to see how basically both sides respond.”
The Wallabies take on Argentina at Sydney’s CommBank Stadium at 7.45 pm AEST on Saturday evening. Earlier, the All Blacks host the Springboks in a highly anticipated Test in Auckland.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 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.
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