Wallabies seek Rugby Championship redemption after last year's record loss in Argentina

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — An embarrassing loss a year ago in Santa Fe inspired a resurgence in the Wallabies that will be only truly assessed in a rematch against Argentina on a steamy Saturday afternoon in Australia's tropical north.

“It hurts. It still stings,” Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt said of that 67-27 loss the last time the teams met in the Rugby Championship. “You never want to be beaten like that."

The Wallabies were coming off two home losses to South Africa and a narrow 20-19 win over the Pumas at La Plata before blowing a 20-3 lead at Santa Fe, Argentina last September and losing on a record scale — the most points ever conceded in a test by Australia.

It's a vastly different scenario heading into the Townsville heat.

All teams in the Rugby Championship are 1-1 following Australia's upset win over the World Cup champion Springboks at Ellis Park and narrow loss in Cape Town, and Argentina's first ever home win over the All Blacks.

The coaches are well acquainted after regularly crossing paths, and full of respect for each other. The opposing players know what to expect from each other, too.

Schmidt rates the rugged Pumas backrow among the best in the world, acknowledges the kicking game and strong midfield and the threat posed in counterattack from the back.

Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi said the Australians bring a strong, athletic challenge across the field and he knows there's pace out wide. Plus, he's expecting things he hasn't yet seen from a Schmidt-coached team.

“He is so detailed on everything he does," Contepomi said. “He will have under his sleeve a trick, or two or three. We don’t know, that’s why we are expecting a really, really tough game.”

The Pumas are coming off an impressive win over the No. 1-ranked All Blacks, they're confident after their record win over the Wallabies last year and they also won their last match in Australia, 34-31, at Sydney in 2023.

They've won three of the last four tests against Australia, and one of the big reasons is Contepomi's attitude toward results.

“For me, I hate more losing than what I love winning,” he said. “For us, it’s start from zero the following day.”

Both teams have relatively fresh playmakers, with 22-year-old Tom Lynagh returning from a concussion sustained in Australia's narrow series loss to the British and Irish Lions and relegating veteran James O'Connor to the bench.

For Argentina, Santiago Carreras will start after a composed and assured performance as flyhalf replacement against the All Blacks after Tomos Albornoz went off injured.

Contepomi made three changes. Schmidt also had to shuffle his lineup to accommodate returning skipper Harry Wilson, who will start at No. 8, moving Rob Valetini to blindside flank, and shifting Tom Hooper into the second row in the absence of giant lock Will Skelton.

Pumas captain Julian Montoya celebrated his 100th test cap in that big win over the Wallabies last year. He's expecting a different kind of game this weekend.

“That was one year ago. You see the path where (the Wallabies) are now,” he said. “They beat the Springboks at Ellis Park and they almost beat the Springboks again last game. So it’s a world-class team. We’re expecting the best from them.”

Wilson on Friday said Argentina's form has been “unbelievable.”

“This year, they’ve already beaten the British and Irish Lions and the Kiwis, two of the best teams in the world. So, we know what we’re up against," he said, before adding that confidence is also building within Australian rugby.

“When you’re putting out consistently good performances, the confidence grows in the group.”

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Argentina's Los Pumas Santiago Carreras prepares to kick a penalty against New Zealand's All Blacks during a rugby championship match in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Los Pumas players celebrate winning a rugby championship match against New Zealand's All Blacks in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Australia's Rob Valetini, right, is challenged by South Africa's Malcolm Marx during a rugby championship test match between South Africa and Australia, at Cape Town stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)

Australia's Corey Toole, front, breaks away from South Africa's Eben Etzebeth during a rugby championship test match between South Africa and Australia, at Cape Town stadium in Cape Town, South Africa, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — Slovenia’s parliament on Friday appointed right-wing populist politician Janez Jansa as the new prime minister, in a shift for the small European Union country that was previously run by a liberal government.

Lawmakers backed Jansa in a 51-36 vote in the 90-member assembly. The new prime minister will need to come back to Parliament within the next 15 days for another vote to confirm his future Cabinet.

Jansa's appointment concludes a postelection stalemate in Slovenia after a parliamentary ballot two months ago ended practically in a tie. Former liberal Prime Minister Robert Golob's Freedom Movement won by a thin margin but he was unable to muster a parliamentary majority.

Jansa and his populist Slovenian Democratic Party signed a coalition agreement this week with several right-wing groups. The new government also has the backing of a nonestablishment Truth party that first emerged as an anti-vaccination movement during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The new term in office will be the fourth for the veteran Slovenian politician. Jansa, 67, is an admirer of U.S. President Donald Trump and was a close ally of former populist Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who was defeated in a landslide election last month.

Jansa in a speech listed the economy, fight against corruption and red tape, and decentralization as key goals of the future government. He has promised to lower taxes for the rich and support private education and healthcare.

Critical of the previous government's alleged “inefficiency," Jansa said the new government will turn Slovenia into “a country of opportunity, prosperity and justice, where each responsible citizen will feel safe and accepted."

Like Orban, Jansa was staunchly anti-immigrant during the huge migration wave to Europe in 2015. Also like Orban, Jansa has faced accusations of clamping down on democratic institutions and press freedoms during a previous term in 2020-2022. This led to protests at the time, and scrutiny from the European Union.

Golob in his speech described Jansa as “the greatest threat to Slovenia’s sovereignty and democracy."

Alleging that Jansa had threatened to arrest him, Golob said Jansa's "idea of democracy is that anyone who dares speak a word against you deserves only the worst.”

Jansa, a supporter of Israel, also has been a stern critic of the Golob government's 2024 recognition of a Palestinian state.

The vote on March 22 was marred by allegations of foreign influence and corruption. The around 2 million people in the Alpine nation are deeply divided between liberals and conservatives.

Janez Jansa, center, addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa arrives for a session of the Slovenian Parliament in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)

Janez Jansa addresses the Slovenian Parliament during a session in Ljubljana, Slovenia, Friday, May 22, 2026, before appointing him as prime minister, ending a political deadlock after tight elections in March. (AP Photo/Igor Kupljenik)