Australia have been forced into a late change on the eve of their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina.
Hooker Folau Fainga’a was ruled out of the contest in San Juan on Sunday morning (AEST) and replaced by Lachlan Lonergan, who will make his first test start.
Fainga’a took a blow to the head in training and failed a concussion test on Friday becoming the latest player to miss out on the test for the Wallabies.
Uncapped Billy Pollard, 20, will take Lonergan’s place on the bench. He could make his international debut having played only eight Super Rugby games for the ACT Brumbies.
It is the latest setback for coach Dave Rennie, who had already lost hooker Dave Porecki before last weekend’s 41-26 victory over Argentina in Mendoza.
Rennie is also without regular captain Michael Hooper, flyhalf Quade Cooper, centre Hunter Paisami and prop Allan Ala’alatoa due to a mixture of injury and personal reasons.
“I have a lot of confidence in both of them,” captain James Slipper told reporters on Friday. “Lonners has been playing really well this year and it is another good opportunity for him.
“It’s his first start for the Wallabies, and one thing you know about ‘Noss’ is that he looks very calm, but when he’s out there he goes full throttle. I am really excited to see how he goes.
“Billy obviously came over late. He has been using my scrum boots all week so I am not even sure if he has his own boots.
“He is a talented young guy who is really excited and you can tell how pumped he is. What you get from youth is that enthusiasm and I reckon both of them will bring heaps.”
Australia: Wright, Petaia, Ikitau, Foketi, Koroibete, O’Connor, White, Valetini, McReight, Holloway, Swain, Arnold, Tupou, Lonergan, Slipper (capt)
Replacements: Pollard, Gibbon, Fa’amausili, Frost, Samu, McDermott, Simone, Hodge.
Olly
Roar Rookie
My feeling is it has to do with the way they will be playing and to be honest none of our other Hookers have set the world on fire this year. My guess looking at the last game they are playing the Brumbies play book and don't have the time to train players 36 hours out from kickoff. They are relying on the Brumbies systems to get them through this game IMO.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Nasser injured and has been most of the season.....why would you throw an injured player who is new to hooker into the test team...makes zero sense. Kaitu’u none selection sums up his performance this year....the guy has been below average this year.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
Yet no other teams are producing concussion issues from training. Is that because they're overlooking them, or ignoring them, or because they don't do contact training mid week - which of course is a sarcastic question.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
But no project 10's ffs. :angry:
Morsie
Roar Rookie
You do know the difference between teams and individual players don't you? Nasser would have been in my first few pics btw. Kaitu'u was returning to form for Aust A and is a fine player, way ahead of Pollard.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Randwick was the 80’s Brumbies and Dwyer the 80’s McKellar
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I think they thought he might turn out to be. My point was that we had already used our project pick with Lonergan and the next option should have been a bit more pragmatic. We now have two project players and one will be forced to scrum with two props with one test between them. Ignoring any Brumbies bias, this was scandalously careless selection
Olly
Roar Rookie
I think a reassessment on contact withing the last few days of training before a game might be in order.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Those three teams proved terrible this season so don't see the point in selecting from them....I am a Reds fan and I would not even select them....
Olly
Roar Rookie
I am a Reds fan but can't complain as the Brumbies showed they are our best against none Australia teams. The Reds for example are rubbish when playing outside of Australia and it was the Brumbies 101 that won us the game last week....so hard to argue with the Brumbies focus selection.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
I hope so............
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Must be !
Morsie
Roar Rookie
How about the Rebels, Force, and Reds? So the donkeys no3. hooker is better than the no1 hooker for those teams?
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Maybe Kearns back in the day. Wasn't he playing second grade when he got the tap on the shoulder.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Only because some of Tahs boys didn't deserve selection. That's the difference. :happy:
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Ulese has always been “damaged goods”. Some players never reach their potential because if the dreaded “i” word. He is one of them.
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
3rd player out with concussion injury. Shows how much the new protocols can impact week to week selection. You would imagine a few years ago they would have just played on - as we are finding out to their long term detriment. So have to commend all involved. BUT, it does mean we are a bit stuffed this weekend! Perhaps in future much bigger squads need to be picked from the outset.
Double Agent
Guest
Don't think I've ever seen a player I've never heard of before become a Wallaby!! :shocked:
moondoggie
Roar Rookie
I don’t necessarily agree with the selections, but the difference is Rennie is the head coach not McKellar. Buck stops with the head coach.
Morsie
Roar Rookie
McKellar's support of his Brumbie players is way over the top. Where is the same unhinged, vitriolic criticism, and conspiracy garbage that was doled out to Cheika for selecting Tah players?