BRISBANE, Australia (AP) — Harry Wilson will come back from a knee injury to lead the Wallabies and Tom Lynagh will return at flyhalf for Saturday’s Rugby Championship test against Argentina.
Andrew Kellaway was named at fullback to replace injured Tom Wright, and Tom Hooper shifted into the secondrow to replace giant lock Will Skelton and partner club teammate Nick Frost in other key changes to the Australia lineup that split the series 1-1 with the Springboks in South Africa.
All teams are 1-1 after their opening matches in the Rugby Championship. The Wallabies upset World Cup champion South Africa at Ellis Park 38-22 in the series opener and lost 30-22 in Cape Town a week later. The All Blacks beat Argentina 41-24 at Cordoba before the Pumas defeated New Zealand 29-23 for their first home win over the All Blacks.
Ex-Sevens flier Corey Toole will play his first test at home for the Wallabies after being selected Thursday on the left wing, with Max Jorgensen completing the back three. Jorgensen celebrated his 21st birthday during the week in Townsville, North Queensland, site of the Saturday afternoon test.
The 22-year-old Lynagh, who made his starting debut against the British and Irish Lions but missed the South Africa tour because of a concussion, will partner Nic White in the halves. Wilson’s return at No. 8 sees Rob Valetini move to blindside flanker in a reworked backrow with Fraser McReight.
Wallabies head coach Joe Schmidt said the experiened White's kicking and game management would take some pressure off his young halves partner.
Lynagh “only really slotted back in with us this week ... (but) he knows how we’re trying to play," Schmidt said. “His first three test match starts were against the Lions and it got very physical — some of that was untoward. He’s bounced back from that really well.”
Tate McDermott is the substitute scrumhalf, with flyhalf James O’Connor named to potentially play his first test on home soil since 2022 off the reserves bench. His return for the Wallabies in South Africa last month helped stabilize the backline.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi made three changes to his lineup, with Santiago Carreras handed the starting flyhalf role after a strong performance in the upset win over the All Blacks in Buenos Aires in the absence of Tomos Albornoz.
The Pumas' backrow has been bolstered with Marcos Kremer returning and Pablo Matera shifting to No. 8.
The Argentina squad will be full of confidence following the win over New Zealand and a 67-27, comeback win over the Wallabies last September in Santa Fe.
The 67 was the most points the Wallabies have ever conceded in a test, and the 40-point margin was their second biggest.
Schmidt said the Wallabies of 2025 are a vastly different proposition for any team.
“It's hard to connect something from a year ago with what we're currently doing, but certainly there's been a few connections,” Schmidt said. "Part of that is the quality of the Pumas side — we saw that two weeks ago against the All Blacks.
“They've got one of the stronger backrows in world rugby ... very talented midfielders and a back three that threatens as well. We're expecting it to be super tough, that's the nature of TRC.”
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Lineups:
Australia: Andrew Kellaway, Max Jorgensen, Joesph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i, Len Ikitau, Corey Toole, Tom Lynagh, Nic White, Harry Wilson (captain), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Tom Hooper, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Tom Robertson; Reserves: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Filipo Daugunu.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Delguy, Lucio Cinti, Sanitago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Garcia, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (captain), Mayco Vivas; Reserves: Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Guido Petti, Joaquin Oviedo, Agustin Moyana, Geronimo Prisciantelli, Benjamin Elizalde.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Dennis Passa, The Associated Press
