The Albany Gazette - Australia and Argentina primed for battle of the fittest

The Rugby Championship showdown on Saturday is being played in tropical Townsville, and in the afternoon, making for a challenging environment.

"You're going to see a lot of boys from both teams who are going to be struggling at points in the game," said Wilson, who is back in the saddle after a knee injury kept him out of their last Test.

"But that's why we do our pre-seasons, that's why we work so hard on the training paddock, to be ready for it.

"That's the beauty of taking footy up here. You get different, unique challenges, and it's probably different to playing in Sydney. We're ready for that challenge, and we can't wait for it."

With all four teams in the Rugby Championship so far winning one and losing one, the game is a must-win for Australia and the Pumas ahead of a return leg in Sydney a week later.

Both are in good touch with the Wallabies stunning world champions South Africa in Johannesburg last month, before a narrow defeat in Cape Town.

Argentina lost their round one clash against New Zealand but bounced back emphatically to topple the All Blacks for the first time on home soil.

Under coach Joe Schmidt, Australia have come a long way from being crushed 67-27 by Argentina in Santa Fe last year and Pumas skipper Julian Montoya is expecting a tough encounter.

"That game (in Santa Fe) was a year ago, even more," he told reporters.

"And you see the path they're on now -- an amazing series against the (British and Irish) Lions, beat the Springboks at Ellis Park and almost beat them again in the last game.

"It's a world-class team and we're expecting the best of them, a proper Test match."

Both sides have made three changes, with Argentina bringing in prop Joel Sclavi, flanker Marcos Kremer and fly-half Santiago Carreras.

Australia welcome back Wilson, while Andrew Kellaway takes over from injured wing Tom Wright and Tom Lynagh is preferred as playmaker over veteran James O'Connor.

(P.Davis--TAG)