Wallabies coach Eddie Jones says his team is “running a marathon” as he wielded the axe following last weekend’s thrashing by South Africa, with NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu left out of the 23-man squad.
Jones made five changes to the starting team given the task of righting the ship against Argentina this Saturday in Sydney, declaring his players need to “roll up our sleeves” as they drive themselves towards the World Cup in France.
With captain Michael Hooper ruled out, James Slipper will lead the team, with lock Richie Arnold named to make his first Test start in the first of two Wallabies matches on home soil this year.
Arnold will combine with fellow France-based lock Will Skelton in the second row, the pair having faced off against each other in the Top 14 final in Paris just last month.
Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase has also been selected on the right wing, replacing Vunivalu, who was sin-binned in Australia’s 43-12 loss in Pretoria, the first game in Jones’s second stint as Wallabies coach.
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Jed Holloway and Reds backrower Fraser McReight will wear the Wallabies jersey for the first time in 2023, with Quade Cooper set to play his first international in Sydney since 2017, selected at fly half to partner Nic White, who will again line up in the No.9 jersey.
Angus Bell will make his return from a foot injury after 142 days on the sideline as the replacement loosehead prop, with Pone Fa’amausili recalled to the matchday 23.
Jones said his team needed to restore some pride in the jersey after the horror show in South Africa.
“As a squad, we’re running a marathon this year, and we didn’t get off the start line like we wanted to, but we get another opportunity to find our rhythm this weekend against a tough Argentinian side,” Jones said.
“We have two Tests on home soil this year, so we have to have to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a performance that drives Australians to show pride in the Wallabies.”
WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY ARGENTINA
1. James Slipper (c) (128 Tests)
2. David Porecki (11 Tests)
3. Allan Alaalatoa (65 Tests)
4. Richie Arnold (1 Test)
5. Will Skelton (25 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (10 Tests)
7. Fraser McReight (10 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (31 Tests)
9. Nic White (60 Tests)
10. Quade Cooper (77 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (52 Tests)
12. Samu Kerevi (42 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (27 Tests)
14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (3 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (24 Tests)
Reserves:
Jordan Uelese
Angus Bell
Pone Fa’amausili
Matt Philip
Rob Leota
Josh Kemeny
Tate McDermott
Carter Gordon
