MENDOZA, AFP: Argentina’s Australian Coach Michael Cheika is expecting a tough battle up front in the Pumas’ Rugby Championship opener against the Wallabies in Mendoza on Saturday.

Cheika made six changes to the pack he picked in last month’s series decider against Scotland for the clash against Dave Rennie’s side.

Captain and hooker Juan Montoya returns in a completely new front row while Cheika also made two changes in the back row and one at lock.

Cheika is expecting fireworks from both packs as he builds his team with one eye on next year’s World Cup in France.

“We’re still only one month together as a coaching team and playing group,” said Cheika.

“We’re focussing on ourselves and the combinations we have within the team, communication, game plan, technique on the most important thing in this game: the scrum, maul, ruck. That’s very important for our team.”

When asked if he had any specific goals for this tournament - in which Argentina have finished with the wooden spoon eight times in 10 previous participations - Cheika showed the Rugby Championship was secondary to his main target.

“The objective is very clear for us, it is putting the team in a situation where they can be competitive with all the big teams: top ranked teams, middle ranked teams and teams that are coming up because that’s what we will meet in the World Cup.” Argentina lost every match in last season’s Rugby Championship and failed to even pick up a losing bonus point -- their tightest game being a 15-point defeat.

But the Pumas were thrown into disarray more than most by the coronavirus pandemic which saw their Jaguares Super Rugby franchise effectively broken up and their players all looking for new employers.

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