Wallabies

Argentina and Australia draw in Tri-Nations

The Pumas stunned the rugby world with last week's victory in their first test for more than a year and once again showed their remarkable durability and spirit as they wiped out a nine-point deficit over the last 16 minutes.

Nicolas Sanchez, who scored all of Argentina's points in their 25-15 win over New Zealand, was again near-perfect from the kicking tee and sent two booming kicks over the uprights from near the halfway line late on to level up the scores.

Pumas say they'll need to improve to beat Wallabies

The Pumas sent shockwaves around the rugby world with their 25-15 dismantling of the All Blacks in Sydney in their first test for more than a year but there was no question of resting on their laurels for their second Tri-Nations outing.

"We played to 100% of what we were capable of and some of the boys maybe over 100," Ledesma said this week as he prepared his team for what he hopes will be a third win over the Wallabies on Australian soil in 17 attempts.

Pumas keep faith in All Blacks toppling line-up

Bulldozing blindside flanker Pablo Matera will again captain the side and the experienced Nicolas Sanchez retains the number 10 shirt after scoring all of Argentina's points against the All Blacks at Western Sydney Stadium.

In the replacements, Santiago Socino replaces Facundo Bosch as back-up for starting hooker Julian Montoya, while Toulon's Facundo Isa looks set to win his first cap since August 2019 after being named as back row cover instead of Tomas Lezana.

Dave Rennie rewards Kiwi-crushing backs but changes Wallabies forwards for Argentina

Slipper started in all four Bledisloe Cup tests as coach Dave Rennie's first-choice loosehead prop, but the Brumbies star suffered a dislocated elbow late in the first half of the Wallabies' last-start 24-22 win over the All Blacks.

The painful injury created a two-man race for the No 1 jersey between Slipper's Brumbies team-mate Sio and one-cap Waratah Angus Bell.

Bell showed he is more than capable of making the step up to international rugby when he replaced Slipper at Suncorp Stadium, but Rennie has opted for the safety of 66-test prop Sio for the key Argentina clash.

All Blacks learn red card lessons from Rugby World Cup

Prop Ofa Tuuangafasi became just the fifth All Blacks player to be sent off in a test on Saturday when he was given a red card for a high tackle on Wallabies winger Tom Wright in the 24-22 loss to Australia in Brisbane.

"We just have to be better," Coles told reporters on a conference call on Monday.

"We do a lot of tackling practice in the week. We just have to lower our sights and targets to not get those red cards again.

"I suppose it's one on the chin for us."

Both teams see red in All Blacks' 24-22 loss

Despite outscoring the Wallabies three tries to two in the game at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the All Blacks were caught short in the second half, spending very little time in the 22 and constantly under pressure, giving away costly penalties.

The Wallabies opened the scoring with a try to Tom Wright in the third minute of play, marking a dream start for the debut winger from the Brumbies, but New Zealand replied soon afterwards with a try to Rieko Ioane.

Hodge to face All Blacks at first-five as Wallabies ring the changes

With James O'Connor still struggling with a knee injury that ruled him out of last weekend's record 43-5 loss to the All Blacks, 42-test veteran Hodge was named in the side in place of Noah Lolesio, who had a poor game on debut in Sydney.

An injury to lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto also forced a change in the second row with Rob Simmons set to earn his 104th cap alongside Matt Philip in the fourth Bledisloe Cup clash, that doubles as a Tri-Nations match.

The All Blacks have already sealed the Bledisloe Cup series.

The Bledisloe Cup is staying put

New Zealand's beaten Australia 43-5 to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four test series.

The All Blacks had all but locked up the trans-Tasman trophy by halftime, when they led 26-0, having scored four unanswered tries.

First-five Richie Mo'unga scored two of them. The first was a brilliant solo effort from a scrum inside the Wallabies' 22, while the second came when he collected a Beauden Barrett chip kick inside the All Blacks' half and ran away to dot down under the posts.

Former Wallaby comes out

The 32-year-old wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald of the anguish of "living the dream" as an elite athlete while being trapped in a "false narrative".

"I was incredibly frustrated, angry and desperately sad. I despised myself and the life I was living," wrote Palmer, a former vice-captain of Super Rugby side ACT Brumbies.

"Most nights, I cried myself to sleep and routinely numbed myself with a heavy cocktail of opioids.

Hoskins Sotutu to start as All Blacks make minimal changes

Coach Ian Foster has largely stuck with the team that put Australia to the sword in the second test at Eden Park, with Sotutu replacing for Ardie Savea, who stayed behind in New Zealand for the birth of his second child.

Sotutu is one of three changes to the starting forward pack for Saturday, with Karl Tu'inukuafe comes in at loosehead prop for Joe Moody, who is unavailable due to the concussion he suffered in the Auckland match.