Wallabies coach Dave Rennie says his team won’t be distracted by Argentina’s shambolic lead up to Saturday’s Test as he named a team including returns for two long-time absentees.
While Argentina will be without six squad members to choose from including two starters from last week after they traipsed over the Queensland border into the forbidden land of Byron Bay, NSW, the Wallabies have freshened up by bringing in several squad stalwarts.
Sean McMahon was named on the bench for his first Test since 2017, while prop Greg Holmes, 38, has made a remarkable return for the first time since playing his 27th Test in 2016 to become the oldest player for the Wallabies since World War 2.
Here’s everything Rennie said about his selections for Saturday
On why selectors rung the changes
“We’ve picked a side that we think is best for this weekend,” said Rennie.
“Some of the changes have been made on form – from those guys coming in or a couple of guys who we weren’t as happy with on the weekend.
“A couple of them are changes based on workload or opportunity.There’s not a lot of difference between a handful of our positions.
“Someone like Jake Gordon coming in, he’s been outstanding in training, hasn’t been involved since the third Test against France, while Nic White and Tate McDermott have grabbed their opportunities and had a stranglehold there.
“Tate’s had a great year but we’re keen to give Jake a bit of a sniff going to this weekend. That’s the reason for the change. We’ve got guys who have been training the house down and deserving an opportunity.
“We still want to pick a side that reflects earning the right to play and still gives us a good chance of winning on the weekend.”
On the return of Greg Holmes
“He’s done well,” Rennie said. “Obviously with Allan [Alaalatoa] heading home for his child’s birth and with Pone Fa’amausili injured we wanted an experience tight head in from a scrummaging perspective.
Holmes played for Western Force last year and owes his return to a random meeting with rennie at a Bledisloe Cup lunch in Perth ahead of the game earlier this month. Holmes asked if he could come in and spend some time watching training and now makes his return.
“We brought him into camp in Perth, he’s been with us for the last few weeks here and it’s gone really well. We think he’s ready to go and will do a job for us.
“He’s played good footy for the Force and that’s put him in a position where he is now.
“We’re rapt for him. I didn’t tell Homer he was in the mix so he was already applauding for the guy he thought was on the bench, and got a bit of a shock from it.
“There was a massive roar from the lads because he’s such a popular character. It’s not a sentimental selection – it’s based on what we need and we think he can do a job for us.
His call up was an astute call by Rennie.
“We knew that we’re going to lose Allan, at some stage,” he said. “We couldn’t get anyone out of New South Wales without quarantining or Victoria without quarantining at that stage.
“We’re confident because of his experience that he hold up his end of the scrum.
“He’s as surprised as anyone but it’s pretty cool. He’s certainly worked hard since he’s been here and we’re very comfortable with the decision.”
Rennie said Fa’amausili just missed out through lack of fitness.
“He is close but not quite,” said Rennie. “He’d be high risk is what the medics termed him this weekend.
“The last Rugby Championship game was the desire but he’s not quite there.”
Tom Robertson has been left out of the 23, with Rennie saying Holmes was a better tighthead option.
“We thought Tom was really good,” Renie said. “But he’s predominantly played loosehead the last four years.
“We think he could hold up a scrum but we think Greg gives us more experience and nous in that tighthead role and that’s an area where we think the Argentinians will try and come at us. We want to make sure we’re really solid there.”
On the demotion of Rob Leota and return of McMahon
Leota made his debut at No.6 last Saturday but has slipped out of the squad altogether. Rennie had said before that selection that Pete Samu’s versatility meant that for the other backrowers it was a case of in the team or out of the squad. Samu has won a start, with McMahon on the bench.
“We were actually very happy with Rob last week,” said Rennie. “He’s a big man who gave us a bit of go forward. Good skill set.
Rob Leota. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“We wanted to reward Pete – he’s been outstanding off the bench. We are keen to get Sean in the mix. So unfortunately, Rob misses out. We learned a bit more about him and he’s learned a bit more about himself at this level and his job will be to apply pressure for selection over in Europe.”
Rennie summed up McMahon’s attributes this way: “He’s very physical. He’s not the biggest loose forward going around but plays big. So we want to see that.
“He’s a machine in regard to work ethic. We want to see that. If he can give us physicality and work rate… He’s been around a long time, he’s got a good understanding of his role.
“He wants to get out and enjoy it. The best part of the game for him is having a physical imprint.”
Rennie said McMahon would likely cover six or No.8. “If we lost Hoops we would probably move Pete into seven and Sean into 6-8,” said Rennie. “He’s got clarity around the 6-8 roles. But he’s more likely to go to six and we’ll move Pete somewhere.”
Rennie also revealed McMahon, Samu Kerevi and Quade Cooper have all received clearance from their Japanese clubs to go on the northern hemisphere tour.
“Suntory have been fantastic,” Rennie said of McMahon and Kerevi’s club.
“They are very keen for them to play a bit of international footy and it works out nicely based on their schedule so we really appreciate their support.”
On what Jordie Petaia needs to do to replace Marika Koroibete
Petaia has come in on the wing wing with Koroibete given tme off with his family. Rennie said the youngster needed to step up to fill his teammate’s boots.
“We have the luxury of looking at footage from a variety of angles but [Marika’s] work ethic is phenomenal,” said Rennie.
“The amount of very high speed metres he runs, everytime he’s chasing kicks or kickoffs, his ability to get back, his ability to get on the other side of the field… that’s what we’ve talked to Jordie about.
“We know he’s got a great skill set, he needs to work a lot harder off the ball and he’s got aspirations of being a 15 and so that’s a big focus for him and he’s certainly trained that way this week.”
On if Quade Cooper has convinced him he can play at the 2023 World Cup
“He will definitely be [ready] physically. There are no guarantees for that though. We’ve got James O’Connor sitting on the bench this week who is equally as experienced and has been out with injury.
“What we’ve got is genuine competition for places. We’ve also got Noah [Lolesio] in the background who trained superbly today. He’sl earning and growing and it’s been good for the group.
“We’re not trying to think too far ahead. I have no doubt that players like Quade and James have got plenty more footy in them.”
On the Pumas’ situation
“There is no change to us at all,” said Rennie. “We’ve got a massive focus on us.
“The Pumas have been away from our home for a long time, haven’t played a home Test for a long time and there are plenty of motivating factors for them. We’re still trying to grow our game and whoever we end up with in front of us we’ll deal with on the day.”
On if he wants a statement win on Saturday
“We haven’t talked about a statement – we’ve constantly talked about the quality of our performance,” said Rennie.
Last weekend he said, “we felt we had a lot of ball and territory in the first half and we thought that would pay dividends late in the game.
“We created a lot of opportunities late and didn’t finish them off so that was a bit of a frustration, but you’ve also got to give credit to the Pumas.
“Their scramble defence is outstanding. The Africans split them a fair few times in the two Tests and barely got the ball over the line. They work hard for each other. We’ve got to be better and that’s what we’re looking for – a real clinical performance.”
He does appear to have the Wallabies in high spirits after three straight wins.
“There is certainly belief within the group,” Rennie said.
“We’ve got a good understanding of our game and the efforts required to implement the game plan. We’re just working hard doing all the things we have been for the last 18 months, trying to develop our skill set, trying to develop our game awareness.
“We’re certainly a very different side now and we’ve got genuine competition for places and that’s helping. Guys understand they need to be at their best, otherwise they could lose their spot to someone else. We’ve got belief in each other.”
On the size of the European tour squad
“It’ll be 35, maybe 36, so smaller than what we’ve got now,” said Rennie. “We think that’s the right mix and we’ve got a fair bit of versatility within the group.
“I think those numbers are manageable. Ideally it would have been good to go away with a little bit less but it’s obviously difficult to get guys in quickly, even get flights to get guys overseas quickly at the moment.
“It’s not as straightforward as it has been historically. So we’ll take enough insurance. We’ve had 44 in the squad at various times this year.”
FrancisF
Roar Pro
I think Leota was given a chance to have a game, for his hard work at training. After the game, there would have been a private meeting between Leota and the brain trust on his game, told to work on those areas of his game which he needed to fix to meet Rennie’s threshold of readiness. Leota will be back. Just like Gordon, Lonergan. Likewise, for Pete Samu after being out of several games, put on the bench amd now on start line up. Rennie needed consistency of performance at his threshold of readiness. Rennie is building a SWAT team out of the Wallabies, a team equipped with all the required armory which is expected to deliver the right outcome each time they march out to the field. The main target: The AllBlacks. Reason: I doubt Rennie is going to let the Kiwis to keep reminding him after his tenure with the Wallabies that they bashed his ass for 3:0 in 2021. Keep an eye on the Bledisloe Cup games in the next few years if Rennie is still on board.
The Ferret
Roar Rookie
38
Paul D
Roar Rookie
It doesn't mean he's specifically talking about Kaitu’u there. In my opinion, Rennie is talking about Phillip when it comes to being not happy about last week. I think Lonergan is just being offered another go. I expect the Wallabies are going to be trying to up the tempo this game with Samu and McMahon. Lonergan has a lot of tempo
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Won't happen, lucky to get 5-10 minutes even in a game that is already decided. Hooper or Rennie won't want another 7 to show up the skipper. As the saying goes, "never give a sucker an even break".
FrancisF
Roar Pro
Coach Dave Rennie is a breath of fresh air. You could read between the lines in his public comments he cares deeply the professional careers of his players while demanding performance from them and expecting their highest commitment to the game. He did not hesitate to send them out to pasture those with demonstrated weaknesses to allow them time on their own to work out their shortcomings and then will only bring them back later into the team when they had met his threshold of readiness. Less said about our last few coaches, who tend to let their personal idiosyncrasies get into their way and blurred the objectivity in their decision-making towards building a truly competitive squad worthy to face against a more superior opponents. It is obvious Rennie saw he was handicapped when he realised the Wallabies’ achilles heel is it has no depth. So what he is doing right now is to patiently create depth with what he has in front him, and not waiting for the absentee Rugby Australia to do something it. You could sense Dave Rennie is laser focused on molding a team he himself can tell himself it will be good enough to give the All Blacks a run for their money. He should know the “what and when” having coach those Super Rugby teams across the ditch which had comprehensively smothered the Aussie teams in the Trans Tasman Competition. I actually feel really good about this refurbished Wallaby team for the first time in a decade.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
I'd love to see a bit more of a 'Wild Quade', but I think KCOL you are right with Rennie's version of a playmaker role. He has 'Quiet Quade' as a true Field Marshall -operating not quite on the battle front, running everything from arms length. Which works well when you have such a weapon as Kerevi. To have a guy with Quade's experience & rugby nous inside these younger(& older) backs must do wonders for their confidence?
Cassandra
Roar Rookie
Well, that will make the Spring Tour an interesting prospect. Can’t wait! Desperate for a win over England this year. I think that is the next task on the to do list.
PapanuiPirate
Roar Pro
This was never really in doubt, the clubs have no ability to hold the players over the international window due to Reg9. All this means is those players can play all 4 games instead of the 3 stipulated in Reg9. The only game they reasonably would have been NOT available for would be the game against Japan, which already shapes as the most likely test of the tour in which to try out fringe players.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Doc. Memo to Tony, the ‘MKQ Show’ should be in the headline :happy:
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Others closer to the stats speak of a low work rate in Leota. He has not been ‘dropped’. He’s been given a rest and work to do at training. The game is not just there to entertain us. It’s also there to ‘test’ contenders, and to design some homework. No doubt RL has his homework well explained to him.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
Yes Peter , despite some apparent ‘wildcards’ like Cooper and Holmes, Rennie is conservative in my view. He is demonstrating a rugby logic, that certain obsessives, myself included, are deciphering piece by piece. And I agree on Cooper. Like a kid asked if he’d like another ice cream, I will tend to always say yes to his selection. But your point is well made. This version of Quiet Quade is new, even to him, and White and he are creating a template that may outlive them both. I hope so. We also have other versions of Quade, Wild Quade has not yet been let out to gallop. But in a Rennievation where every boy has a man’s job, there may just be less for a playmaker to do? Apart from the symbiosis with White, there is that with Lenny, Kellaway and Petaia. And they look to be part of the future. So yeh, Quade has some more attack design work to do before his fellow KwAussie coach gives him a breather.
PeterK
Roar Guru
yes JoC needs to earn the right to start. He needs to play better off the bench than QC has starting, which he has not.
Ken Catchpole's Other Leg
Roar Guru
I see your logic Big A, and I respect it. My sense though is that Rennie, while wanting to spread opportunities through as many players as possible, wants the contenders to pass through clear ‘induction’ processes. JOC, for instance, missed a couple of offloads last game. Rennie will use him when the young fella tweaks his attack in that area. I’m only guessing of course. But look at how long Quade, McMahon, and others have ‘squaded’ before getting a chance. It’s not just skills, it is also a team resonant game awareness that is prerequisite for gold in this iteration. Pete Samu is another one. He has waited a long time with excellent play, for this start. I want Quade to be ‘looked after’ as much as anyone outside his family. But Rennie wants to win first. I can live with that.
Aldo
Roar Rookie
Am I the only one who thought that Uelese added a lot off the bench in his two tests against the Blackness? By the time he came on the game was gone both times but he added a lot to the scrum, threw straight except for one and scored that try where he had a bit of work to do. The bloke is only 24 and unlike Lonergan is built like a tank…..or a TPN. I don’t get it?
PeterK
Roar Guru
QC should start, he has not played much test rugby for a long time. The more tests he gets the better right now. He is still developing a combination with White. JoC off the bench , you get to see him at 10 anyway. He played tests last year at 10. DR also limits the number of changes each test which is a good thing. So he already has changed the starting lock, the no 6, the wing, bench hooker, thp, loose forward, halfback, and utility back. All up 5 new players into the 23, that is more than enough. That is sufficient without bringing in Paisami as yet another one. Too many changes for the sake of it and you lose the test match.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
How refreshing. Rennie really talks a lot of common sense. No agro. No blaming anyone else , just thoughtful analysis. Love it.
Ankle-tapped Waterboy
Roar Rookie
Rewarding someone for being a fine waterboy is mighty appealling to the waterboy fraternity, but truth to tell we see how hard the professionals train. They do it tough. Dave Rennie has the right idea of rewarding the squad members who are performing well. A line has to be drawn, otherwise you could end up with a waterboy being promoted to Director of Rugby of the World Cup winning nation. I mean, as if that would ever happen.
BBBT
Roar Rookie
Meh. As a reds fan he’s no where near ready
Barabbus
Guest
I’d love to see Fraser McReight given a crack.
BBBT
Roar Rookie
You pick the next best 7 in the squad.