Eddie wields axe for Pumas clash

Eddie Jones has instructed the Wallabies to “roll up their sleeves” as he made 5 adjustments to the Australia beginning XV to face Argentina on Saturday.

The Australians have been thrashed by the Springboks final week in head coach Jones’ first sport again in cost.

Amongst these lacking for this weekend’s Rugby Championship conflict in Sydney is injured co-captain Michael Hooper, with Fraser McReight changing him at openside flanker.

One other key change sees Mark Nawaqanitawase take over from wing Suliasi Vunivalu after the rugby league convert’s flat efficiency within the 43-12 defeat to the Boks in Pretoria.

With the World Cup in September, Jones admitted Australia have been outplayed by the world champions, and mentioned he anticipated higher in opposition to an Los Pumas aspect that conceded seven tries to New Zealand in a 41-12 defeat at house final weekend.

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“As a squad we’re working a marathon this yr, and we didn’t get off the beginning line like we wished to, however we get one other alternative to search out our rhythm this weekend in opposition to a tricky Argentinian aspect,” Jones mentioned.

“We have now two Exams on house soil this yr, so we have now to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a efficiency that drives Australians to take pride within the Wallabies.”

Jones cautioned that it’ll take time for the Wallabies to search out their groove: “We’re clearly a brand new crew and a brand new teaching employees, so we’re discovering out the place we’re at.”

In the one different backline change, Samu Kerevi, who has been battling a hamstring damage, replaces Reece Hodge at inside centre and companions Len Ikitau in midfield.

Jed Holloway will put on the Wallabies jersey for the primary time in 2023 after an injured Tom Hooper was dominated out. He strains up at blindside flanker alongside McReight.

Lock Richie Arnold will make his first Check begin instead of Nick Frost within the second row.

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The entrance row stays unchanged with Check centurion James Slipper to skipper the aspect at loosehead prop, with David Porecki at hooker and Allan Alaalatoa tighthead prop.

Slipper mentioned they’d been engaged on consistency this week, significantly within the scrum and set items. “For those who look again on the scrum [against the Boks] there have been issues we did very well, so it’s about doing that every scrum, every second,” he mentioned.

“The set piece can also be such an enormous space of the sport that it’s important to get proper and it’ll be no totally different in opposition to Argentina.”

Michael Cheika, who used to teach the Wallabies, additionally wielded the axe with 4 adjustments to the Argentina beginning lineup, selling former sevens participant Rodrigo Isgro for a debut on the wing.

Prop Francisco Gomez Kodela, flanker Santiago Grondona and heart Jeronimo de la Fuente additionally come into the crew. Lucio Sordoni, Rodrigo Bruni, Matias Moroni and Sebastian Cancelliere are dropped.

Australia – 15 Tom Wright, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (c).
Subs: Jordan Wales, Angus Bell, Bond, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon.

Argentina – 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 James Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 James Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Germanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Codela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Rooster.
Subs: Augustin Creevy (16), Hahuel Tetaz Chaparro (17), Eduardo Bello (18), Lucas Paulos (19), Rodrigo Bruni (20), Lautaro Bazan Velez (21), Nicolas Sanchez (22) and Matias Moroni (23).

© Agence France-Presse

Picture: EPA/Kim Ludbrook/BackpagePix