Key Talking Points: Australia v Argentina

The Wallabies host a fired Los Pumas side on Saturday in a match that both sides will be eager to win for a number of different reasons.

The Battle of the Coaches

Mario Ledesma will look to get one over his former colleagues after speaking very highly of Michael Cheika in particular. Meanwhile, Wallabies assistant coach was a bit more humorous than Ledesma saying: 

"I’ve got too much disrespect for Mario to play mind games with him," Larkham said.

"He was here for a couple of years as an assistant coach and honestly I don’t know how he’s a head coach - he’s struggled as an assistant coach. (quotes via: Rugby.com.au)

Ledesma has certainly made an impact with the national side since taking over while Michael Cheika will still feel the heat from the public after a number of calls for his head after the Bledisloe Cup.

The Flyhalf Battle

Whether it's Kurtley Beale or Bernard Foley starting at flyhalf for the Wallabies, they will face an in-form Nicholas Sanchez.

Sanchez was brilliant against the Springboks and All Blacks and will look to complete his hattrick against the Wallabies.

Beale was relatively successively for the Wallabies in the first receiver role and if Foley is recalled to the starting line up either Toomua or Beale will feel hard done by.

One would think that Toomua would be dropped to the bench purely due to the amount of traveling he has done over the past month. 

Sanchez v New Zealand

Do Argentina have enough left in the tank?

Argentina have put in two great performances in the past two rounds of the competition but one can't help but ask if they have enough left in the tank to get their first win in Australia since 1983.

There was a noticeable change in tactics by Mario Ledesma last week with the former Jaguares coach using the vast majority of his bench earlier than usual.

Whether that was to combat the All Blacks trademark late onslaught or a plan to give key players some much need rest we shall have to wait and see.

Argentina has become renowned for leaving the majority of the starting XV out on the pitch for as a possible but will need their bench to make an impact in this match.

Can Argentina stop Pocock Legally?

David Pocock is a threat identified by every opposition that fronts up against the Wallabies.

The Wallabies ability to make turnovers and stall the oppositions ball down is second to none in the game currently.

Pocock is likely to return to the line up after missing the test against the Springboks. Mario Ledesma's side will need to find a way to stop/limit Pocock's effect at ruck time.

Pocock has been the victim of a number of neck rolls recently and John Lacey and his team of assistants will surely be on the lookout for these type of cleanouts this weekend.