Wallabies reveal starting fullback ahead of team naming

Reece Hodge will start at fullback against South Africa in Adelaide on Saturday as the Wallabies try to rebound from their Rugby Championship loss to Argentina.

Coach Dave Rennie has turned to the experience of Reece Hodge to handle the expected aerial assault from South Africa, naming him at fullback for Saturday’s Rugby Championship Test at Adelaide Oval.

With 57 Tests to his name, Hodge replaces rookie Tom Wright who wore the No.15 jersey in the opening two Tests against Argentina, with Australia suffering a record 48-17 loss in the last match in San Juan.

The Wallabies’ back three were badly exposed by the Pumas’ contestable kicking game, with Hodges’ selection designed to counter an expected similar game plan by the world champion Springboks.

Elevated from the Australia A squad after a season-ending injury to Tom Banks, Hodge started at fullback in the narrow third Test defeat to England and then came off the bench in the Argentina games. As well as some much-needed experience in the backs, the Melbourne utility also offers a giant boot to help the Wallabies exit their own half.

Rennie will unveil his entire squad later on Thursday but his assistant Dan McKellar already revealed Noah Lolesio will start at five-eighth in the afternoon match. With James O’Connor sacked after the Argentina horror show, fellow veteran Bernard Foley joined the squad this week but hasn’t played since his Japan season ended in May.

“That’s a position that hasn’t been nailed yet by an individual or owned and he gets his chance this week,” McKellar said of Lolesio.

“He’s got Nic White on his inside who he knows very well.

“They’ve got a very good combination, have played a lot of footy together, so that should be really good cohesion.

“Now he’s just got to go out there and do his job within our plan.”

The Australians are looking to maintain their impressive record on home soil against South Africa as they are unbeaten in their last seven clashes. The Springboks’ last victory over the Wallabies in Australia was back in 2013 while the home side has won their two previous Tests played at Adelaide Oval with their most recent in 2004.