17:48

How do you solve a problem like Australian Rugby?

With two wins from eight Tests its not been a good 2018 for the Wallabies. From a nation that made the most recent Rugby World Cup final to the unprecedented depths of 7th in the world rankings, it hasn’t been so much the results (which, sure, have been bad) but perhaps the manner in which the Wallabies have managed to fashion fresh implosion and grasp morale-sapping loses from the jaws of victory.

They say its the hope that kills you, and by interspersing some rotten rugby with a sprinkling of genuinely good stuff, Michael Cheika’s chargers have become perfect advocates of the artform. Throwing away Tests at the death, playing brilliant defence one week to wet tissue stuff the next, and more recently, showing utter vulnerability at almost every aspect of set piece.

It’s a weakness that won’t have gone unnoticed by Pumas coach Mario Ledesma – you might recall he was the Australian forwards coach about the last time they could win a line out / not collapse a scrum.

Accordingly, the pressure has ratcheted up on Michael Cheika ahead of today’s clash. He’s publicly had the backing of Rugby Australia to take the men in gold to the 2019 World Cup in Japan; but should they claim their first ever Rugby Championship wooden spoon with an insipid display in Salta then the knives will be out. Plenty at stake therefore, especially with Argentine rugby conversely soaring.