Rugby Championship: Australia and Argentina both aiming for first win of tournament
Australia intend to stay true to their attacking principles as they bid to end a run of four straight Test defeats.
Last Updated: 14/09/13 10:28am
Ewen McKenzie's side have lost four Tests in a row and produced an insipid display in last week's 38-12 defeat at home to South Africa.
Australia's forwards were taken part by the Springboks and face another big test of their resolve against Argentina, who are still searching for their maiden win in the Rugby Championship.
"We weren't too impressed by our performance at the weekend against the Springboks but I guess our success will be determined by the platform that the forwards lay," said Australia centre Adam Ashley-Cooper.
"I know these guys have addressed the areas that needed addressing during the week, they've worked really hard in that regard so for us, it's about a balance this weekend, not only playing a good brand of rugby but making good decisions."
Genia dropped
Australia have axed scrum-half Will Genia and handed the captaincy to Ben Mowen in the continued absence of James Horwill (hamstring).
Prop Ben Alexander replaces Sekope Kepu, while there are places on the bench for Sitaleki Timani and Tevita Kuridrani.
"The biggest part of the job is making sure you give great clarity to the group around how we want to play and what we're trying to execute," said No.8 Mowen, who only made his Test debut in June and will be winning his seventh cap.
"To me, the role is purely about making it black and white for the side, so there's no grey going into the weekend and then you can navigate from there.
"All the guys in this group have a lot of belief in what we're trying to achieve.
"We are at the start of developing where we want to be. We want to be playing rugby where a year or two down the track, people are trying to catch up with us. We firmly believe we've got the skills to do that."
Five changes
Argentina last beat the Wallabies in 1997 in Buenos Aires and have won just one Test on Australian soil, at Ballymore in 1983.
They have made five changes to their starting XV, with four of those coming in a revamped back division.
Veteran Felipe Contepomi and Gonzalo Tiesi form a new midfield pairing, Tomas Cubelli replaces Martin Landajo at scrum-half and wing Gonzalo Camacho - who dislocated his shoulder in the brave 28-13 defeat to New Zealand in Hamilton last week - is replaced by Juan Imhoff.
The only alteration to the pack sees Agustin Creevy starting at hooker in place of Eusebio Guinazu, who drops to the bench.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam-Ashley Cooper, 12 Christian Lealiifano, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (capt), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper
Replacements: 16 Saia Faingaa, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Tevita Kuridrani
Argentina: 15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Thomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (capt), 5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Marcos Ayerza
Replacements: 16 Eusebio Guinaz, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Fernandez, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino
You can watch Alex Payne, Sean Fitzpatrick, Dewi Morris and Michael Lynagh discuss this weekend's Rugby Championship fixtures by clicking here