Pumas will target Wallabies ruck: Cheika

The Wallabies are expecting Argentina to try to get the better of them at the breakdown in their Rugby Championship clash in Canberra.

rugby

The Wallabies are expecting some heat at the ruck when they play Argentina in Canberra on Saturday. (AAP)

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika believes Argentina will target the breakdown in their Rugby Championship clash on Saturday night as both teams seek their first victories.

The Australians were outplayed at the breakdown by South Africa in their 23-23 draw in Perth last weekend with the Pumas sensing it could be an area that they too could exploit in the Canberra clash.

Tomas Lezana is the new No.8 in place of Benjamin Macone in the only change to the Pumas pack, while they have made three changes to the backline with Martin Landajo, Ramiro Moyano and Matias Orlando added to the starting XV.

The probing Landajo replaces former Brumbies halfback Tomas Cubelli in the starting side as the visitors look to improve on their 39-22 loss to New Zealand last week.

"You'd have to think with the team they've picked they're going to go hard at the ball on the ground," Cheika said on Thursday.

"They've picked the two opensides and moved Macone out and I think they will go hard at the ruck.

"They will see that last week in the first half that wasn't a strong area of ours but we improved in the second half but they will try to take us there."

Cheika kept his backrow in-tact after No.8 Sean McMahon overcame a corked leg.

"We've had some good consistency in the backrow and a good combination with one taller (Ned Hanigan) in the line-out, Hoops (Michael Hooper) all over the place and Sean, who's very aggressive in his carries," he said.

ARGENTINA: Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo, Tomas Lezana, Javier Ortega Desio, Pablo Matera, Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy (capt), Lucas Noguera. RES: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Enrique Pieretto, Marcos Kremer, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Manuel Montero.


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Source: AAP


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