What Ardie Savea expects from Wallabies’ new-look backrow

When Australia named their team to take on Argentina a fortnight ago, coach Eddie Jones spoke time and time again about what it means to play “the Wallaby way.”

Coach Jones has some high hopes for this team, but at least so far, the Wallabies have failed to hit the mark. Australia have started their new era under Jones with back-to-back losses.

Since that press conference in the Northern Beaches of Sydney – those two weeks have since come and gone – Jones has had plenty of time to think and what hasn’t worked, and what might click moving forward.

The Wallabies coach swung the axe through the team that lost to Los Pumas, having made a staggering seven changes to the starting side ahead of the Bledisloe Cup opener on Saturday.

Some selections came as a welcomed surprise. Jones’ decision to select rising star Carter Gordon in the halves alongside Tate McDermott shows the Aussies want to play an attacking game.

But amongst all the changes, the most surprising pick was Tom Hooper at openside flanker.

In the absence of usual co-captain Michael Hooper – no relation to Tom – coach Jones overlooked Queenslander Fraser McReight, and decided to go with a bigger body at No. 7.

Hooper had a tough debut in Wallaby gold earlier this month in South Africa – the 21-year-old left the field at Loftus Versfeld after 30 minutes with an injury.

But the rising star will be out to make amends. Hooper was named alongside Jed Holloway and Rob Valetini in the Wallabies’ backrow.

All Blacks captain Ardie Savea has been bested by young Hooper in the past, and is preparing for a tough battle with the formidable Australian trio.

“I obviously lost to the uso in the quarter-finals playing for the Canes,” Savea told reporters. “They’ve got a great loose trio with Rob (Valetini) and (Jed Holloway).

“The way they play, they want to be physical, straight up.

“They’ve got a great, young, exciting team so that’s gonna put us on our toes.”

The All Blacks take on the Wallabies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Saturday evening in the first of two Bledisloe Cup Test matches.

New Zealand have held the prestigious trophy for more than 20 years, and while there is plenty of chatter about the upcoming World Cup, the All Blacks are just taking it “week by week.”

“It’s always important to look at the bigger picture,” Savea added. “In terms of what we want to achieve long term.

“But obviously you break it down and for us it’s week by week, and that’s the mantra we’ve been going for.

“This week is another great, big challenge for us, especially in Melbourne at the G, against an Aussie team that’s hurting. It’s going to be an interesting one but it’s going to be good.”