Fijian winger Marika Koroibete and flanker Rob Valetini will be in the starting lineup for the Wallabies as they face Argentina in Buenos Aires on Sunday morning. Their inclusion aims to strengthen the team as they aim to recover from two recent losses to South Africa.
Another Fijian player, Langi Gleeson, will be on the bench. Coach Joe Schmidt has appointed Harry Wilson as the captain, marking him as the 90th player to lead Australia. Wilson’s captaincy coincides with Taniela Tupou returning to the starting lineup after missing the previous two Tests against South Africa, alongside hooker Matt Faessler and Angus Bell.
Nick Frost will also return to the team after recovering from a concussion, joining Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row. In the backline, Hamish Stewart of the Western Force is set to become Wallaby number 986 after being selected as the inside centre, completing a long journey to Test rugby following over 100 Super Rugby appearances for the Force and Queensland Reds.
NSW Waratahs captain and scrumhalf Jake Gordon is another backline change, pairing with Noah Lolesio after recovering from a recent injury. The bench features experienced players such as Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Nasser, and Isaac Kailea. James Slipper will miss another week to match George Gregan’s record of 139 caps, which may potentially occur during the Bledisloe Cup series.
Jeremy Williams and Gleeson have also recovered from injuries to provide depth in the forwards, while Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, and Max Jorgensen maintain their positions to complete the 23-man roster.
Schmidt stated that the team has adjusted well to the travel and time zone differences since arriving in Buenos Aires, describing the training session as the team’s most dynamic so far. He acknowledged that while Argentina will enjoy strong home support, they also appreciate the encouragement from fans back in Australia and aim to demonstrate their dedication on the field.
The match is set to kick off at 10 am Fiji Time.