Wallabies must achieve a one-in-603 Test feat

Australia has only done it once before it its history and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has way too much respect for Argentina to even hint it will be achieved again.

Rookie five-eighth Noah Lolesio may get another chance for the Wallabies in what is effectively a dead-rubber Test against Argentina Picture: Getty Images

Australia has only done it once before it its history, put 100 points on an opposition in a rugby Test, and Wallabies lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has way too much respect for Argentina to even hint at it for Saturday’s season-ending clash at Bankwest Stadium.

That was the equation Australia was left with after the All Blacks claimed a bonus-point win over the Pumas in Newcastle on Saturday, that is if they still have ambitions to win the Tri Nations Cup. In order to make up a massive points differential, the Wallabies must win by at least 101 points. They have only done that precisely once in 603 Tests dating back 121 years, the day they spanked lowly Namibia at the Adelaide Oval in the 2003 World Cup.

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When they blitzed Spain 92-10 in Madrid in 2001 in George Gregan’s first Test as Wallabies captain and again when they put Japan to the sword 91-3 at the 2007 World Cup in Lyon in Steve Larkham’s last Test, they still couldn’t quite crack the ton. They certainly tried hard enough to humiliate an England side that would take its revenge in 2003, but even then they only won 76-0 at Lang Park in 1998. Against a side that only this month laid waste to the All Blacks? Forget it.

It’s a problem that can be laid at the feet of the bonus points system, yet it is one that Salakaia-Loto has no quibbles with. “If you work hard, play hard and get those tries, I don’t see why you shouldn’t be rewarded for the good work you do on the field,” he said on Sunday.

He chuckled, somewhat grimly, when he was made aware of what Australia’s assignment now was. “I didn’t know we had to score that to win (the Tri Nations). I’m not going to come out and say that’s a realistic score because we are coming up against a quality side.”

For both countries, this match will spell the end of a brutally hard season. Dave Rennie has argued that each of his five Test teams this season have been his best available and it remains to be seen whether he sticks to that principle for the Test at Parramatta or whether he unleashes a swarm of youngsters who have been dazzling at training.

Melbourne Rebels lock Trevor Hosea is bristling for a chance, having waited patiently for an entire season. Brumbies playmaker Noah Lolesio didn’t come close to showing what he is capable of in his debut against the All Blacks in Sydney while Reds’ former Australian Under 20 captain Fraser McReight made a 12-minute appearance off the bench in that same match, looked a quality player in everything he did – and then hasn’t been sighted since.

“All those blokes who have been putting their hand up every day, putting their hand up for selection,” said Salakaia-Loto, who himself is available for selection after recovering from an ankle syndesmosis.

“I remember my first camp. I didn’t get a debut and it just made me more hungry. So you can look at it one way or you can use it as fuel and use it to fire you up. We have great depth in our positions so whether Dave wants to switch the team up or keep the same team, that’s up to him.”

The giant Queensland lock admitted he perhaps could have “parked” the remainder of the ill-starred 2020 season when he was diagnosed with syndesmosis and started afresh next year. But having broken virtually all records to get himself over an injury that can last for months, years even, the last thing he now wants is to spend the cricket season brooding over a defeat.

That was precisely what All Black captain Sam Cane reminded his own players of before they played the Pumas on Saturday. “Sam Cane hit it on the head there,” he said. “You don’t want to be dwelling on a loss over the summer. It is one of the worst things. There are a lot of positive things that have happened this year so we are working hard to get a result that we are proud of and everyone else can be proud of. We’ve got another 80 minutes of tough footy against a tough opposition.”