Michael Cheika has opted for stability in his Wallabies squad to play Argentina this Saturday, making just the one change to the starting XV that defeated South Africa last weekend.
While Australia’s performance against the Springboks was far from perfect, it was a vast improvement on their two Bledisloe Cup outings against the All Blacks to start the Rugby Championship, and Cheika evidently saw enough to persevere with much of the same playing group.
The only major change has come in the second row. After sticking with the same pairing for the previous two Tests, Cheika has changed things up for the meeting with the Pumas, with Rob Simmons finally earning a recall to the starting line-up at the expense of Kane Douglas.
Simmons hasn’t played for the Wallabies since the ill-fated Bledisloe I clash against the All Blacks in Sydney, instead chipping away for Queensland Country in the National Rugby Championship.
While the starting line-up has remained largely unchanged, Cheika has tinkered with his bench. Waratahs prop Tom Robinson is in line for a Test debut, replacing the injured Allan Alaalatoa, as is Melbourne Rebels back-rower Lopeti Timani.
Timani was named on an extended bench last week before being the unlucky man to be cut prior to kick-off, but the hard-running Rebel has avoided the same fate this time around, with Cheika opting to go with six forwards on his bench in order to handle the physical threat posed by the Pumas.
Timani’s inclusion means Brumbies winger Henry Speight has missed the cut after initially making the nine-man bench in place of Drew Mitchell. It would have been Speight’s first appearance for the Wallabies since he was a part of the side which cruised past Uruguay at last year’s Rugby World Cup.
Like Mitchell, Douglas has been dropped from the side entirely, with Adam Coleman filling the other starting lock spot.
Coleman is one of two Western Force players who will run out in front of their home fans on Saturday night, with Dane Haylett-Petty retaining his place in the side.
Reece Hodge has also kept his spot on the wing, while Cheika has continued to ignore the calls to shift Israel Folau from fullback to outside-centre. Samu Kerevi has retained his spot in the number 13 jersey.
Quade Cooper and Bernard Foley will once again line up as the Wallabies’ playmaking duo at fly-half and inside-centre respectively, while Dean Mumm will once again start at openside flanker alongside Michael Hooper and David Pocock in the back row.
Saturday night’s match against the Pumas will kick off at nib Stadium in Perth at 6:05pm local time, or 8:05pm AEST, and The Roar is your place to go for all your live blogging and game highlight needs.
Wallabies team to play Argentina on Saturday
1. Scott Sio (21 Tests)
2. Stephen Moore (c) (108 Tests)
3. Sekope Kepu (69 Tests)
4. Rob Simmons (63 Tests)
5. Adam Coleman (3 Tests)
6. Dean Mumm (49 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (57 Tests)
8. David Pocock (59 Tests)
9. Will Genia (69 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (60 Tests)
11. Reece Hodge (2 Tests)
12. Bernard Foley (33 Tests)
13. Samu Kerevi (4 Tests)
14. Dane Haylett-Petty (6 Tests)
15. Israel Folau (44 Tests)Reserves (one to be omitted)
Tatafu Polota-Nau (67 Tests)
James Slipper (80 Tests)
Tom Robertson (0 Tests)
Rory Arnold (3 Tests)
Lopeti Timani* (0 Tests)
Sean McMahon (10 Tests)
Nick Phipps (44 Tests)
Tevita Kuridrani (37 Tests)
Henry Speight (5 Tests)
taylorman
Roar Guru
Kerevi was mentioned as a potential midfielder all last year. By going with the NH players he denied starting him earlier. He could have played matches like Chicago and Uruguay. So with 12 he backed himself into the corner, World Cup year or not. And look who's battling to get test experience in the midfield against much tougher teams. Go figure.
This is serious Mumm
Guest
Couldn't agree more PR. Best outcome for OZ Rugby is for the Pumas to give them a walloping in Perth. Difficult given the amount of travel they have done to date, but my money will be on them giving the Wobblies a caning in Argentina.
vsan
Guest
I totally agree with you Nick, really people we are suppose to support the team, not use this as a forum to pit state against state, as that is not the issue. It's our poor preforming Wallabies Team and it's not new it's been going on for years now WHY? let's figure out WHY?
King of the Gorgonites
Guest
Liking the side. 6/2 split on bench is way to go. Pumped for game.
Boz the Younger
Guest
"But that’s because NZ have a better line out." Correct, Reid is an absolute killer in the lineout, just like Itoje was for England. You can only play with the cattle you have and the sad fact is that our 193cm, 110kg odd loosies are just not as good as getting up quickly as those guys.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Good to see Timani make the bench and his debut. Hope he gets stuck in.
Adrian Denyer
Guest
Oh well...suck on it. At least NSW Tahs won something, and Wallabies came 2nd in World Cup. Next thing we'll be wanting McIntyre for 5/8...
soapit
Guest
no expert but seemed to me against the all blacks the speed of throw increased significantly when tpn came on and made it much harder for defending lineout to get up and steal. moore was kinda just lobbing it relatively (albeit accurately). tpn really ripped it in
Selector
Guest
Thanks Thugbyfan Whilst I don't think Frisby will ever be a long term first choice HB, I would be more than happy to invest in him over Phipps. Phipps' inconsistencies have been going on his entire career. I am by all means not a Hooper hater. I just think Pocock would be my first choice 7, and I like what McMahon offers off the bench. But I wouldn't be disappointed if Hooper was put in over McMahon.
me
Guest
Agree. Those three have had their chance(s) Time for others to get experience before the 2019 WC.
me
Guest
Only mumm is olaying loose at 6. Just another player out of position.
MA
Guest
The Warratah's are obviously a good team. Nearly winning the Aussie conference and the last Aussie team to win Super Rugby Championship. But a good team does not mean they have the best players in each individual position. If the best player in each individual position was picked there would be far less Warratah players in the Wallabies. However what we are seeing is Warratah players getting picked because the Warratah's are a good team finishing ahead of 3 other Aussie teams in Super Rugby as well as the ARU being completely NSW centric and the coach being ex Warratahs. Is this good for the Wallabies? Absolutely not. Will it change? Absolutely not. Does this annoy almost all of the Australian Rugby fan base? Absolutely. How does that translate? The ARU being broke and the Wallabies loosing 5 of their last 6 games.
me
Guest
Hey peter, the whole team has been miserable all year, IN TESTS
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Cooper. Since 2013 he kicks at 72%. Since 2014 Foley kicks at 75%.
Wozza
Guest
Who kicks if Foley's benched/dropped?
Noodles
Guest
I reckon this week will expose Mumm's most annoying fault - his tendency to turnover possession and drop the ball in contact. The Argies contact last week was high grade.
Browny
Roar Rookie
The 50-65 minute mark could be a great time for wholesale forward changes; Arnold for Coleman, McMahon for Mumm and Timani for Pocock. Survive the early onslaught of the Pumas attack then kick it up a few gears to try and run away with it like the ABs did.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
But my point is in making the move, he's been named at 13 and defending at fullback for all but 4 or less games. He hasn't been attacking "at 13" either. He's just been their focal point in attack, attacking wherever he sees opportunity. This is as a result of him being vastly superior to everybody else in their backline. The Wallabies don't need to build their backline solely around Folau. They have other strong options who if used, take defensive pressure off Izzy and allow him to actually get more opportunity.
Gray Matter
Guest
I share your angst. Its a shame however that we have to console ourselves with " I told you so" The Wallatahs legacy has done much harm to Australian Rugby. The persistent retention and promotion of over-rated and under-performing players who don't cherish the Wallaby jumper and view it as their privileged right rather than their deserved custodianship because of their effort and dedication is a great dis-service to those that earned and cherished it in the past. I've had a gut-full of the establishment and the good-old-boys club.
PiratesRugby
Guest
Kepu, Folau, TPN ... who do they play for again. And Pocock, Timani, Higginbotham don't play for Qld. So why don't you try again. NSW are trashing the Wallabies. Call it out and you must be a Reds fan. That's right, NSW are the victims.