Argentina v Australia: Five talking points ahead of Rugby Championship clash

Israel Folau has his sights set on try-scoring history against Argentina on Saturday

We look at the key talking points as Australia travel to face Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday, live on Sky Sports Arena from 11.30pm.

The Wallabies head to South America looking to finish their Rugby Championship with a second victory, while Argentina are going in search of their first. Here are some of the key talking points ahead of the clash...

Cheika keeps the faith

Jack Dempsey, Marika Koroibete and Izack Rodda all made their first starts for the Wallabies against South Africa last time out, and each have been rewarded for their displays by keeping their places in an unchanged line-up named by Michael Cheika.

Rugby league convert Marika Koroibete has started impressively for Australia

Of the trio, a fair few eyes will be on the former rugby league man Koroibete, who made the code switch last year.

In Port Elizabeth he had what Cheika called a "standout performance", and the Wallabies boss hasn't forced the progression of the winger since his switch from league and instead is managing the Fijian's sensibly.

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The Springboks and Wallabies played out a thriller in Bloemfontein

For some time the Wallabies have been looking for their optimal combinations out wide and as the Autumn series in Europe approaches, another head-turning performance from the 25-year-old could see him become a firm fixture on the wing.

With the Pumas being more diminutive in size than the Springboks, the winger could ask some serious questions of them in a gold jersey this weekend.

Koroibete represented Fiji internationally in rugby league, but will play for the Wallabies in union

The only amendment to the Wallabies' match day squad for this final Rugby Championship game is the split on the bench. Cheika has decided to go for a 5-3 focus and as a result Henry Speight and Tetera Faulkner join the fray.

Which side will focus on the performance?

Australia's record over Argentina - having won 14 of their last 15 games - is one of the healthier head-to-head comparisons that you'll see at international level.

When you then dive into the detail of the statistics, the Wallabies have come away with victories in Argentina on four of their last five occasions.

Argentina's head-to-head record with the Wallabies is one of the worst in the game

In short the numbers are heavily swayed towards the visitors, though neither side must go into this final Rugby Championship match focusing on the statistics.

If Cheika's team concentrate too much on the rude health of these numbers then a hint of complacency- potentially subconsciously - may arrive and they could be ripe for the taking.

On the other side, Daniel Hourcade's side must forget about the weight of history against them when it comes to this particular Rugby Championship head to head. Australia must not be seen as a 'bogey' team but instead as equal.

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Highlights of the last meeting between Australia and Argentina, which ended in a 45-20 win for the Wallabies

For the Pumas, the match must be viewed as a key opportunity to get an elusive victory and finish this Rugby Championship on the right note.

Can home advantage play a role?

If ever there was a Test match, and a weekend, when the power of home advantage was needed then it's this one.

The Pumas are at the junction in the road when a victory, of any kind, is vital. Vital for their confidence and a vital to provide a platform to work from before they head to European soil for Tests against England, Italy and Ireland.

Respective captains Agustin Creevy and Michael Hooper will hope to lead their sides to a moral boosting win

Of course the home team's performance on the pitch is the most important cog in the wheel but a rousing and intense atmosphere must be created to give them that added one per cent at crucial moments in the encounter.

Irrespective of the specific sport, professional sportsmen and women will tell you the importance that tasting victory can have on team morale. Right now Daniel Hourcade's squad need a win in front of their home crowd to give them the boost required to lift this squad out of their difficult run.

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Highlights of the last meeting between Australia and Argentina, which ended in a 45-20 win for the Wallabies

History time for Folau?

So far in this Rugby Championship Israel Folau has crossed the try-line five times, more than any other player.

Indeed, no Australian has ever scored more tries than that in one year's competition. As a result, one more in Mendoza will result in a spot of history for the 28-year-old.

Israel Folau is closing in on the most tries in a rugby championship campaign and by a player in a calendar year

On top of this, Folau can use the game on Saturday to take another step towards a wider goal, the record for the most Test tries scored in a calendar year.

In Port Elizabeth he scored his 11th five-pointer of 2017 and now he needs just six more to equal the current record (17) for a calendar year, currently shared by former All Black Joe Rokocoko (2003) and Japan's Daisuke Ohata (2002).

With over 50 points scored between Australia and Argentina in each of their past Rugby Championship meetings, the trend bodes well for the full-back letting loose on the field on Saturday night.

Argentina look to avoid unwanted record

The Pumas would complete their worst season since joining the Rugby Championship in 2012 if they fall to a sixth consecutive test defeat in Mendoza and fail to claim two bonus points.

In their previous worst campaign in 2013, Argentina took two losing bonus points, while they have registered one victory in each of the last three championships.

Creevy and Argentina suffered their fifth straight tournament defeat at home to the All Blacks last time out

In preparation for the clash, Hourcade has made four changes to the starting team, which includes a completely new second-row pairing.

Scrumhalf Martin Landajo replaces the injured Tomas Cubelli, who suffered a fractured vertebra and disc hernia against the All Blacks last time out, with Gonzalo Bertranou coming onto the bench.

There are three changes to the pack with Tomas Lezana coming into the back row for the dropped Juan Manuel Leguizamon.

Argentina's head coach Daniel Hourcade has made four changes to the starting XV

The pair of locks has also changed with Matias Alemanno and Marcos Kremer replacing Tomas Lavanini and Guido Petti.

Lavanini has had a tournament plagued by indiscipline, earning a yellow card against the All Blacks and a red card against South Africa in Salta in August.

Do the Puma's have it in them to record a victory and avoid their worst ever season?

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Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Marika Koroibete, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Reece Hodge, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia; 1 Scott Sio, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 3 Sekope Kepu, 4 Izack Rodda, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Jack Dempsey, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 8 Sean McMahon.

Replacements: 16 Stephen Moore, 17 Tetera Faulkner, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Lukham Tui, 21 Nick Phipps, 22 Samu Kerevi, 23 Henry Speight.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo; 1 Lucas Noguera, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Marcos Kremer, Matias Alemanno, 6 Pablo Matera; 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Tomas Lezana.

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Benjamin Macome, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Santiago Cordero.