Australia and Argentina need win as clock ticks down to World Cup

SYDNEY (AFP): Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika say Australia and Argentina are works in progress, but with the clock ticking to the Rugby World Cup, both coaches desperately need a win when the teams meet on Saturday.

Jones’s Wallabies and Cheika’s Pumas suffered heavy defeats, to South Africa and New Zealand respectively, to kick off the Rugby Championship last weekend.

It makes their clash at Sydney’s Parramatta Stadium a must-win to boost confidence and get their preparations for the World Cup in France in September-October on track. The Pumas head into the match looking to win back-to-back games against Australia for the first time ever after a 48-17 thrashing – their biggest margin against the Wallabies – last year.

But that was on home soil. Their away record is poor, winning three of their last 16 against all opponents.