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Wallabies forced into 3 changes as history looms for James Slipper

James Slipper of the Wallabies reacts during the International Test Match between Australia Wallabies and Wales at AAMI Park on July 13, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt is unable to stick to a winning formula for their rematch against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, as three injuries have forced him into changes for the clash in Santa Fe.

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Lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder), flyhalf Noah Lolesio (back) and fullback Tom Wright (ankle) are all casualties from the 19-20 win in La Plata last week- the Wallabies’ first win of this year’s Championship.

Jeremy Williams has come in to replace Salakaia-Loto in the pack, while Ben Donaldson and Max Jorgensen will step in in the back line, all of whom featured from the bench last week. There will be a reshuffle in the back three, with Andrew Kellaway shifting to fullback having started on the wing last week.

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The match will be 20-year-old Jorgensen’s first start for the Wallabies, while 23-year-old lock Josh Canham could make his debut from the bench.

Joining Canham among the substitutes is James Slipper, who could draw level with George Gregan as Australia’s most-capped player at the Estadio Brigadier General Estanislao López.

Fixture
Rugby Championship
Argentina
67 - 27
Full-time
Australia
All Stats and Data

Looking ahead to Canham’s potential debut, Schmidt said: “Josh is a good athlete and I think he’s a really promising young player.

“He’s gone away and put some work in and some of that is just the physical grind of making sure he’s prepared for Test match Rugby…he’s built a bit of confidence through the work he’s done and we’ve built in what Josh can deliver.”

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Australia XV
1. Angus Bell (30 Tests)
2. Matt Faessler (9 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (53 Tests)
4. Nick Frost (18 Tests)
5. Jeremy Williams (5 Tests)
6. Rob Valetini (45 Tests)
7. Carlo Tizzano (3 Tests)
8. Harry Wilson (16 Tests)
9. Jake Gordon (24 Tests)
10. Ben Donaldson (11 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (61 Tests)
12. Hamish Stewart (1 Test)
13. Len Ikitau (32 Tests)
14. Max Jorgensen (2 Tests)
15. Andrew Kellaway (32 Tests)

Replacements
16. Josh Nasser (5 Tests)
17. James Slipper (138 Tests)
18. Allan Alaalatoa (73 Tests)
19. Josh Canham (uncapped)
20. Langi Gleeson (7 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (34 Tests)
22. Tom Lynagh (2 Tests)
23. Josh Flook (2 Tests)

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H
Hellhound 30 minutes ago
France put World Cup pain behind them with unbeaten run in November

France is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.


NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.


With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.


That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.

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