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Murray Wenzel

Wallabies wary of Pumas' history repeating

One win down in Argentina but the Wallabies are preparing for an all-too-familiar Pumas response. (AP PHOTO)

The Wallabies' forwards will continue to "have a crack" if they sense an opportunity but remain wary of an Argentinian bounce-back as they chase a fifth-straight win for the first time in five years.

Les Kiss's side held off Los Pumas 27-21 in San Salvador on Sunday (AEST) and, having since jumped them into seventh on the world rankings, will face them again in Mendoza this weekend.

It was far from a polished performance but there were still eye-catching moments, Brandon Paenga-Amosa's opening try chief among them after offloads from locks Jeremy Williams and Josh Canham in the build-up.

Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa finished off neat attacking play in the first Test against Argentina. (AP PHOTO)

"We're encouraged that if we see the picture, go for it, have a crack," hooker Paenga-Amosa said of his "off the cuff" try.

"I looked up and there was four of us down the blindside against three backs (and thought), 'you know what, scrap it let's go'."

Kiss has shuffled his first and second-row in all three games he's coached, but the Wallabies' set-piece dominance has remained, particularly in the line-out.

"They (Argentina) thrive off dominating other packs and that's a strength of ours, taking it to them," Paenga-Amosa said.

"From the get-go, wanted to start off with a bang and we stepped up to the plate. It's been a huge area for us (physicality) and feel like we've delivered every single week."

Josh Canham.
Josh Canham soars to pull down a lineout during the victory in Jujuy. (AP PHOTO)

Australia have won their first Test on both of the last two tours of Argentina, only to be blown away in the second.

In 2022 they won comfortable in Mendoza before suffering a 48-17 thumping in San Juan, while two years ago they followed up a one-point win on a wet night in La Plata with a historic 67-27 loss in Santa Fe.

Los Pumas have also won two of their last three clashes on Australian soil.

"We know they're going to want to come back with a response," Paenga-Amosa said.

"The last few times we've come, we've done really well in the first game and not so well in the second, so we understand what's coming."

Australia had lost six consecutive games, and nine of their last 10 Tests before thumping Italy in Perth earlier this year and beating Japan twice in as many weeks.

Not since 2021 under Dave Rennie have the Wallabies won five-straight Tests, that run including two victories against South Africa.

Assistant Jonny Fisher, citing the need to improve their defence around the ruck, said there was a clear focus to move onto the next challenge.

"It's a brand new Test match for us," he said.

"The focus returns immediately to … today. And we're pretty clear on the areas we need to improve."

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