Rugby-Australia coach Kiss braced for 'scary' second test against Pumas

Australia coach Les Kiss believes ‌the ​Wallabies have been heading in the right direction in his brief spell in charge, but he is not getting carried away ahead of what he described as a "scary" second test against Argentina on Saturday. Kiss has led Australia to three wins from three matches since he ‌took over from Joe Schmidt in late July, including last weekend's narrow 27-21 victory over the Pumas in San Salvador de Jujuy.

Australia have never won both matches on a tour of Argentina, however, and on their last visit in 2024 were crushed 67-27 in the second test after winning the first. "The direction's been solid, but we won't get ahead of ourselves," Kiss told reporters ‌from Argentina after naming his team for the Mendoza clash on Friday.

"This weekend is scary in its own right because it's the second test. 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. "This is a bloody good Argentinian team. They've got big lock forwards and a big back row presence, so it won't be easy. We know that if you give them something, they'll take it, and if they take it once, they'll take it ten times. That's how good they can ⁠be."

With a match ​against world champions South Africa and two against ⁠New Zealand to come before the second half of the Nations Championship, Kiss on Friday again rang the changes in his team in an attempt to keep his players fresh. Ben Donaldson will start at flyhalf for the ⁠first time this year in place of Carter Gordon, who suffered a nasty gash on his head last week and will back up from the bench.

Len Ikitau and Joseph Suaalii will pair up in the ​centres in place of the Hunter Paisami-Isaac Henry partnership and on the left wing, Harry Potter is replaced by Filipo Daugunu. Scrumhalf Kalani Thomas is set to earn his ⁠second cap off the bench as a replacement for Ryan Lonergan with Tate McDermott rested.

While Australia's backline is studded with quality talent, it has not really fired yet under Kiss and the Wallabies have relied on the forwards to ⁠get ​them over the line. "No one has a right to flow in test match footy, you've got to make the right decisions around flow," said Kiss.

"They understand it's important ... when we do play with the ball in hand that we're just creating a few more opportunities. "They're working very hard to find the space and open up the opportunities that we can do."

Having ⁠named an entirely new pack for the first test, Kiss changed his front row for Saturday's clash and brought regular captain Harry Wilson into his back row. Rob Valetini moves ⁠from number eight to blindside flanker to make way ⁠for Wilson with flanker Tom Hooper rested to help manage a shoulder issue.

Team: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12-Len Ikitau, 11-Filipo Daugunu, 10-Ben Donaldson, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Harry Wilson (captain), 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Rob Valetini, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Josh Canham, 3-Taniela Tupou, 2-Billy Pollard, 1-Angus Bell Reserves: 16-Josh Nasser, ‌17-Aidan Ross, 18-Massimo de Lutiis, 19-Lukhan ‌Salakaia-Loto, 20-Charlie Cale, 21-Kalani Thomas, 22-Carter Gordon, 23-Isaac Henry.

(Additional reporting by Mark Gleeson in Cape ​Town; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Stephen Coates)