Nic White’s retirement tour will continue in Townsville when the halfback partners returning Wallabies flyhalf Tom Lynagh and captain Harry Wilson against Argentina.
Andrew Kellaway has won the battle to fill the injured Tom Wright’s boots at fullback at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on Saturday in the other change to the side that lost narrowly in Cape Town a fortnight ago.
James O’Connor steered the ship in the two-game South African tour but will come off the bench behind 22-year-old Lynagh, who was badly concussed in the third Lions Test.
White had announced his retirement in the lead-up to that game but will start for a fourth-straight Test after answering an SOS following veteran No.9 Jake Gordon’s hamstring injury.
Tom Hooper will shift to the second row to replace Will Skelton, who has returned to French club duties, while Wilson has overcome a knee issue to wear the No.8 as Rob Valetini moves to No.6.
Carlo Tizzano will get his first action since the third Lions Test, named on a bench that also includes versatile back Filipo Daugunu.
The teams are effectively fighting for a crucial top-six ranking ahead of December’s World Cup draw that would ensure smoother passage to the final stages of the 2027 showpiece.
Los Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to the starting side that beat the All Blacks for the first time on home soil a fortnight ago.
He said there was no danger of an emotional lull after making history in Buenos Aires.
“Sport is a very interesting thing … I hate more losing than what I love winning,” he told reporters in Townsville on Thursday.
“I get out of that dressing room and I’m already starting to think on the next job.
“When you lose, I try not to take it longer than 24 hours, but sometimes it does. It hurts.
“So we started from zero the following day, preparing for Australia and trying to improve.”
Santiago Carreras will wear the No.10 after replacing Tomas Albornoz (hand) early in that match.
Contepomi has rejigged his back row with the inspirational Pablo Matera moving to No.8 to accommodate blindside flanker Marcos Kremer.
Prop Joel Sclavi will start, Geronimo Prisciantelli could debut off the bench while loosehead Boris Wenger should also earn his first cap after playing in the unofficial Test victory over the Lions.
WALLABIES: Tom Robertson, Billy Pollard, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Tom Hooper, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Nic White, Tom Lynagh, Corey Toole, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway. Bench: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angus Bell, Zane Nonggorr, Jeremy Williams, Carlo Tizzano, Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Filipo Daugunu.
ARGENTINA: Mayco Vivas, Julian Montoya (c), Joel Sclavi, Franco Molina, Pedro Rubiolo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Bautista Delguy, Juan Cruz Mallia. Bench: Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Guido Petti, Joaquin Ovideo, Agustin Moyano Geronimo Prisciantelli, Benjamin Elizalde
https://thewest.com.au/sport/rugby-union/wallabies-big-selection-tweaks-for-crucial-pumas-test-c-19908103
