Eddie Jones demanded Thursday that Australia “roll up their sleeves” as he made 5 changes to his beginning team to face Argentina in the Rugby Championship after being thrashed by South Africa in his first recreation in cost.
Among these lacking for Saturday’s conflict in Sydney is injured co-captain Michael Hooper, with Fraser McReight changing him at openside flanker.
Another key change sees Mark Nawaqanitawase take over from Suliasi Vunivalu on the wing after the rugby league convert’s flat efficiency in their 43-12 defeat to an understrength Springboks in Pretoria.
‘Marathon’
With the World Cup looming in September, Jones admitted Australia had been outplayed by the world champions and stated he anticipated higher in opposition to an Argentina aspect that conceded seven tries to New Zealand in a 41-12 defeat at Mendoza final weekend.
“As a squad we’re running a marathon this year, and we didn’t get off the start line like we wanted to, but we get another opportunity to find our rhythm this weekend against a tough Argentinian side,” stated the coach.
“We have two Tests on home soil this year, so we have to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a performance that drives Australians to show pride in the Wallabies.”
Jones cautioned that it’ll take time for the Wallabies to search out their groove.
“We are obviously a new team and a new coaching staff, so we are finding out where we are at,” he stated.
In the one different backline change, Samu Kerevi, who has been battling a hamstring damage, replaces Reece Hodge at inside centre and companions Len Ikitau in midfield.
Experienced playmaker Quade Cooper and scrumhalf Nic White once more run the engine room.
‘Each moment’
Jed Holloway will put on the Wallabies jersey for the primary time in 2023 after an injured Tom Hooper was dominated out. He strains up at blindside flanker alongside McReight.
Lock Richie Arnold will make his first Test begin in place of Nick Frost in the second row.
The front-row stays unchanged with Test centurion James Slipper to skipper the aspect at loosehead prop, with David Porecki at hooker and Allan Alaalatoa tighthead prop.
Slipper stated they’d been engaged on consistency this week, notably in the scrum and set-pieces.
“If you look back at the scrum (against South Africa) there were things we did really well, so it’s about doing that each scrum, each moment,” he stated.
“The set-piece is also such a big area of the game that you have to get right and it’ll be no different against Argentina.”
Argentina team
Argentina coach Michael Cheika — who used to teach the Wallabies — additionally wielded the axe with 4 changes to his beginning team, selling former Sevens participant Rodrigo Isgro for a debut on the wing.
Prop Francisco Gomez Kodela, flanker Santiago Grondona and centre Jeronimo de la Fuente additionally come into the aspect.
Lucio Sordoni, Rodrigo Bruni, Matias Moroni and Sebastian Cancelliere are dropped.
Teams
Australia: Tom Wright; Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi; Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway; Will Skelton, Richie Arnold; Allan Alaalatoa, David Porecki, James Slipper (capt). Bench: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa’amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon
Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli; Rodrigo Isgro, Lucio Cinti, Jeronimo De La Fuente; Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Pablo Matera; Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno; Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya (capt), Thomas Gallo. Bench: Agustin Creevy, Hahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Eduardo Bello, Lucas Paulos, Rodrigo Bruni, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Nicolas Sanchez, Matias Moroni
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