The ‘scary’ prospect awaiting Wallabies in bid to win five-in-a-row
Updated . First published
He wasn’t the coach in 2024, but the horrors of Santa Fe are still fresh in Les Kiss’ mind as he attempts to preserve his unbeaten record in charge of the Wallabies on Sunday (7am kickoff AEST).
A Joe Schmidt-led Australia kicked off their last tour of Argentina with a gritty 20-19 win in La Plata.
Harry Wilson leaves the field after the Wallabies were thumped by Argentina in Santa Fe in 2024. Getty Images
But a week later the wheels fell off in spectacular fashion as a Wallabies side weakened by illness were destroyed in a humiliating 67-27 defeat.
Many in the current leadership team played in that record loss and Kiss - 3-0 as Test coach - was well aware of the Pumas backlash coming their way in the wine country of Mendoza.
“The direction’s been solid, but we won’t get ahead of ourselves,” he told reporters after naming Harry Wilson as captain of a revamped team.
“This weekend is scary in its own right because it’s the second Test. Not many people do it (go 2-0 in Argentina). Not many teams do it the second time around, and we know what happened last time, so we just want to make sure we’re in front of everything that we can be.”
Kiss has picked Western Force playmaker Ben Donaldson for his first Test start at No.10 since 2024, with Carter Gordon dropping to the bench.
Donaldson, 27, has played 24 Tests without ever commanding the jersey.
But halfback Ryan Lonergan is in outstanding form and will take some pressure off Donaldson by shouldering the goalkicking duties.
“From the outset, we wanted to make sure we saw the 10s, all of them, in some form. Deccy (Meredith) had a good run early with three Tests. Carter’s come in. Donno’s had the bench there,” Kiss said.
“He’s had a great season, Donno. We felt it was just an opportunity to make sure he just feels test-ready again as we move into the rest of the season.
“The three 10s that are here have been very good all year. If we come up to a big game suddenly later down the year and someone hasn’t played a Test match for a while, we just felt it was the right time to do something there as well.”
Veterans Bernard Foley (NSW Waratahs) and James O’Connor (Force) will add to Kiss’ domestic options in an intriguing selection battle ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
Kiss said he wanted to stick and pick at some point.
“Definitely... thinking forward, we’ll definitely start to narrow down our options for sure.”
Meanwhile, Foley talked up Donaldson’s qualities on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
“He’s got that change of pace too, he’s actually very deceptively quick, Donno, despite his (skinny) legs,” Foley said.
“His ability to take the ball (to the line) and to get that second line of play as well, I think is exciting because he’s also playing in a team now that has got confidence.
“There are guys who are really stepping up and for him, it’s just underplaying his hand, but always being available, always being in that position, and then when he sees that he can run around a defender, to really try and take that opportunity.”
Lonergan and Donaldson are yet to team up together at Test level but do have some familiarity from Australia A games.
Ben Donaldson and Taniela Tupou of the Wallabies celebrate victory. Getty Images
The Wallabies are looking to win their fifth straight Test.
“These two are world-class players, I’m sure they can gel and go and lead the team around,” Foley said.
“They’ve got a team that are excited, there are guys who are really performing, so you don’t have to overplay your hand. If they’re moving the ball, if they’re giving it to the dangerous strike weapons, then I’m sure this team’s going to be dangerous.”
Foley also had some fond memories of a wild 2018 Test against Argentina in Salta.
The Wallabies trailed 31-7 at halftime and Michael Cheika tore strips off the tourists in the cramped changing rooms at Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena.
Under pressure to keep his job after some poor results, an angry Cheika was shown on broadcast grabbing Foley by the jersey to ram home one point.
One of the most remarkable rallies in rugby history ensued as the Wallabies won the second half 38-3 for a record 45-34 victory.
“Oh yeah, it was one of his greats,” Foley said of the spray. “And he’s had a few in my time. He just put it on us to, to say ‘who are we representing and why are we wearing that jersey, and let’s go out there and make the team proud.’
“Things came off for us and the guys ran away with it, and it was something pretty special to be involved with. We scored some incredible tries.”
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Angus Bell
Reserves: Josh Nasser, Aidan Ross, Massimo De Lutiis, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Charlie Cale, Kalani Thomas, Carter Gordon, Isaac Henry
ARGENTINA (15-1): Santiago Carreras, Rodrigo Isgró, Luico Cinti Luna, Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, Ignacio Mendy, Nicolás Roger, Simón Benítez Cruz, Joaquín Moro, Guido Petti, Pablo Matera (c), Franco Molina, Efraín Elías, Francisco Moreno, Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wegner
Reserves: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Moreno, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Martin Scelzo, Facundo Cardozo, Gonzalo Bertranou, Mateo Soler
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