Henry backs Wallaby plans

Perth - New Zealand's World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry on Friday urged the Wallabies to stick to expansive rugby and gave his surprise backing to their beleaguered new coach Ewen McKenzie.

Three losses in three Tests have piled the pressure on McKenzie, who took over from New Zealand's Robbie Deans in July, but Henry said Australia were "trying to play the game the right way".

"When they were the best team in the world at the turn of the century, they played an expansive game," the former All Black coach, now a consultant with Argentina, told reporters.

"It's the way they should play because that's their mentality and that's their skill-level.

"I don't think you are going to win games by playing chess-board rugby and kicking the balls in the air and chasing it.

"That's not the way Australians play, and they haven't got the forward pack that can give you that sort of dominance.

"I think they're trying to play the game the right way. They're struggling at the moment, but I think a couple of wins under Ewen will put them right."

The 1999 world champions' attacking style has come in for criticism following their losing start to the Rugby Championship, culminating in last week's 38-12 defeat to South Africa in Brisbane.

McKenzie has reacted by benching Will Genia, rated one of the best scrumhalves in the world and skipper last week, for Saturday's bottom-of-the-table game against Argentina in Perth.

Kick-off is at 12:05 (SA time).

Teams:

Australia:

15 Israel Folau, 14 James O'Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Christian Leali'ifano, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Ben Mowen (captain), 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Kane Douglas, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 James Slipper.

Substitutes: 16 Saia Fainga'a, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Ben McCalman, 21 Will Genia, 22 Matt Toomua, 23 Tevita Kuridrani

Argentina:

15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12  Felipe Contepomi, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Marcos Ayerza

Substitutes: 16 Eusebio Guinazu, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Benjamin Macome, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Fernandez, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino