Kiss seeks two starting sides from depth-challenged Wallabies

Melbourne: Australia's rugby coach Les Kiss aims to develop two strong starting teams before the country hosts the World Cup next year, in an effort to combat the team's history of struggling with a shallow playing pool. During his first week in charge, Kiss made significant changes to the forward pack for Saturday's test match against Argentina in San Salvador de Jujuy, while maintaining the same backline that secured a 56-17 victory over Japan in Townsville earlier this month.

Kiss emphasized the importance of having two solid 15s, stating, "That's what I need to get to." He believes that a larger pool of players will create competitive pressure, ultimately benefiting the team's performance. Veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa will serve as the captain against the Pumas, with Harry Wilson rested but confirmed as the leader for the remainder of the season.

Winger Dylan Pietsch returned home due to a foot injury sustained in training, while center Len Ikitau is sidelined due to an ankle issue. Rookie 13 Isaac Henry and Hunter Paisami have the opportunity to strengthen the midfield partnership after their initial performance against Japan. Despite the Pumas' success in previous encounters, Kiss acknowledged the challenge they present and stressed the need for his team to perform better.

In Townsville, Kiss was pleased with the backline's performance but acknowledged the need for improvement. He also focused on the importance of smart kicking and utilizing the kicking game strategically.