Wilson returns to lead Wallabies against Pumas as Argentina change three for Townsville clash

Harry Wilson is set to resume captaincy duties for the Wallabies, being among three changes Joe Schmidt has made to the side that lost to the Springboks in Cape Town.

With the Wallabies set to face a strong Pumas outfit in Townsville, Wilson will be joined by Reds teammate Tom Lynagh in flyhalf, while Andrew Kellaway will fill the void left by Tom Wright at fullback.

The result will see an unchanged dynamic in the centres, with Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii set to play alongside each other for the ninth consecutive match.

Wilson’s inclusion will see Tom Hooper shift into the second row to fill the gap left by Will Skelton’s departure, with Lukhan Salakia-Loto and Allan Alaalatoa among the names set to miss out.

Schmidt has also opted to keep an unchanged front row, with Tom Robertson and Taniela Tupou keeping a hold on the starting positions alongside Billy Pollard.

Rob Valetini and Fraser McReight complete the loose forwards, while Corey Toole retains his starting spot after making his debut in Cape Town, with Max Jorgensen fulfilling duties on the other wing.

The Wallabies head coach has also added two new names to the bench, with Carlo Tizzano coming in for Nick Champion de Crespigny, while Filipo Daugunu is set to provide a utility injection in the closing stages of the game, in place of Tane Edmed.

James O’Connor will move into the finishing flyhalf position off the bench after starting against the Springboks, while Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Angua Bell, Zane Nonggorr and Jeremy Williams maintain their finishing roles from South Africa.

“The players have reassembled after a few days break, following our two games in South Africa and worked their way through a very warm week here in Townsville,” Schmidt said in official statement.

“Los Pumas are a combative and skilled side and they will be confident after their recent performances. We know we’re going to need to be at our very best on Saturday afternoon.”

The Pumas head to Australia for the next two rounds following a one-all series outcome against the All Blacks in Argentina.

Los Pumas will first play the Wallabies in Townsville (September 6) in what will be the first of two matches on Australian soil. The match will be played in the afternoon (2.30pm local time) and a warm temperature of 29°C is expected. The second match, to be played September 13, will be at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney and will also be an afternoon match (2pm local time).

Both teams have been based in Townsville for the week ahead of the match. On the side of the Wallabies, there is a lot of expectation about how the team will perform after its good performance on the tour of South Africa, while Los Pumas will seek to continue their improvement and grow game by game. At the moment, The Rugby Championship is very even with each team registering a win and a loss.

The Pumas last played in Townsville in 2021, when they lost to the Wallabies 27-8. Of those called up for this match in Townsville, Mateo Carreras and Joaquín Oviedo made their debuts with the Argentine jersey in 2021.

The last meeting between the Wallabies and Pumas in Australia was 2023, the year of the World Cup. Los Pumas won in Parramatta by 34-31, thanks to a late try by Juan Martín González . In Parramatta, Rodrigo Isgró made his debut.

An experienced Pumas starting fifteen will see three changes from the side that beat the All Blacks in Buenos Aires, with Joel Sclavi, Marcos Kremer and Santiago Carreras all coming in.

Julian Montoya will captain the side once more with an unchanged second row in Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo supported by an imposing loose forward trio in Kremer, vice captain Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez.

Carreras at flyhalf marks the only change to the backline, with Santiago Chocobares and Lucio Cinti making up the centres and Mateo Carreras and Bautista Delguy set to be unleashed on the wings.

Contepomi has made two additional changes on the bench with Boris Wenger set for his official Pumas debut.

Among the 23 players chosen by Felipe Contepomi for the Townsville match, there are two players who may make their official debut for the Pumas: Wenger and Gerónimo Prisciantelli. Wenger played against the British & Irish Lions in Dublin but no caps were awarded for that match.

Wallabies starting XV: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole; 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Nic White; 8 Harry Wilson (capt), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini; 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost; 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson. Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu.

Los Pumas starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras; 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez; 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina; 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (capt), 1 Mayco Vivas. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquin Oviedo, 21 Augustin Moyano, 22 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.

Australia v Argentina at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville - 6.30am

Referee: Paul Williams (NZRU)

Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)

Television Match Official: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Split Screen/FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)

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