Byrne to coach Fijian side

Australia coach Dave Rennie says the formula his team used to beat South Africa twice in consecutive Rugby Championship matches should work again today in the first of two against Argentina.

It just might take a while. ‘‘What we’ve learned over the last few weeks is you’ve got to hang on in the fight for a long time, and sometimes it takes 60 or 70 minutes to crack a side,’’ Rennie said ahead of the match at Townsville in north Queensland. ‘‘So we need to see that resilience on the weekend.’’

Argentina are winless in four Rugby Championship matches – losing twice each to South Africa and New Zealand. The Wallabies, 2-2, sit one point behind South Africa in the standings, with New Zealand unbeaten after four games.

New Zealand play South Africa in the 100th match between the teams in the first match of today’s doubleheader.

Next weekend, the same teams play again in the final round on the Gold Coast. Most of the tournament has been played in Queensland due to Covid-19-related travel restrictions and quarantines.

Rennie said he knows a side like Argentina with nothing to lose can be as dangerous as any.

‘‘They are a bit different, they’ll want to express themselves, their forwards throw a lot more passes,‘‘ Rennie said.

‘‘They’ll counter when given the opportunity – they’re very good at it. They’re also good at filling the field, very disciplined around the defence and it can be hard to break down.’’

Australia are looking to win

Former All Blacks and Wallabies skills coach Mick Byrne will be in charge of the Fijian Drua for their Super Rugby Pacific campaigns in 2022-2023.

Byrne was unveiled at a press conference held by the Fiji Rugby Union yesterday. He has signed a two-year deal as foundation coach.

The Fijian side announced their

Argentina:

three matches in a row for the first time since 2017.

Rennie named Reece Hodge at fullback, the end of five consecutive test appearances off the bench for the Melbourne Rebels player. He’ll replace Tom Banks, who broke his right arm midway through the first half of Australia’s 30-17 win over the Springboks last weekend.

Fellow Rebels player Rob Leota earns his first start for Australia, at blindside flanker. He and Hodge are two of three changes to the matchday squad with playmaker James O’Connor set to make his first international appearance for the year from the reserves.

Argentina’s starting XV is unchanged from the side which lost to New Zealand 36-13 last weekend. first five signings earlier this week – Sevens gold medallist Napolioni Bolaca, test hooker Tevita Ikanivere, veteran loose forward Nemani Nagusa, Bay of Plenty winger Onisi Ratave, and young test No 9 Simione Kuruvoli, who played against the All Blacks in July.

More signings are set to be announced early next week.