FURTHER changes have been made by the Wallabies and Argentine Pumas for their Test Saturday in Canberra, with the host hoping to keep a recent revival in form on track.
On the Wallabies bench is another league convert Marika Koroibete, the side’s fourth debutant in four Tests and Australia’s 10th this year. Koroibete, an apprentice on last year’s autumn tour of the north and also during the June Tests at home, takes the place on a recent debutant, Curtis Rona, who has been left out of the matchday squad.
Veteran hooker Stephen Moore, absent last week to be home for the birth of a third child, is also out of the squad in Canberra which will host its first Test in seven years.
The other notable change is in the forwards, where Rob Simmons makes a starting return for his 75th Test to replace Rory Arnold who has been dropped.
The Wallabies had a good start last week against the Springboks in Perth but let slip a 20-10 lead to end the game in a 23-23 draw.
Thus coach Michael Cheika will want a better evening in Canberra, especially when their overall record against the Pumas has been good.
In the last 10 games between them, the Wallabies have lost only once and that was by 21-17 in Mendoza in October 2014. In Australia, the Pumas have only once and that was way back in 1983 in Brisbane with a 18-3 scoreline.
Daniel Hourcade has tinkered with his line-up again, making a few changes to the backline and significantly playing with his fourth No. 8 in four matches, with the hope of turning the fortunes of his team around but based on their record this year, it is highly unlikely the Pumas will trouble the Wallabies.
The Pumas are now ranked 10th in the world below Fiji and above Japan but a year ago they were seventh while Fiji was tenth. Enough proof there of how badly the Pumas have continued to drop in the world order.
So far their participation from 2012 in what used to be the Tri-Nations has shown very little success and progress. Similarly their participation in the Super Rugby competition since last year through the Jaguares.
Despite all the hype about how participation in these two competitions will be a big help to Argentine rugby, one should also look back to the observation by former All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger, who said that to go far Argentine rugby must first have a strong domestic competition. This they still don’t have and its effects can be seen from the lack of depth and lack of competitiveness in the Jaguares.
But depth has never appeared to be a problem in New Zealand, where the All Blacks play the Springboks earlier Saturday in Albany.
However, long-term injuries to props Owen Franks (95 caps) and most recently Joe Moody (30) means that the All Blacks will face a vastly improved Springboks very thin on experience in the front row. The two props to start are Nepo Laulala with six caps and Kane Hames with only two.
On the bench, Ofa Tu’ungafasi has seven caps. The only old hand in the front row is Wyatt Crockett with 64 caps but as in most of his appearances for the team, Crockett is again on the bench.
Another possible long-term injury is winger/fullback Israel Dagg and with Rieko Ioane back in the starting 15 after being given a break last week, Nehe Milner-Skudder is given his second start in two weekends on the other wing.
Veteran lock Sam Whitelock also returns to start and combine with long-time partner Brodie Retallick but the second row is another area the All Blacks’ selectors should be giving particular attention in relation to the World Cup two years from now.
There is of course Luke Romano as a cover with 28 caps but the team will need at least another understudy here for the longer-term.
Also in need of reinforcements for the same reason are the positions of scrumhalf and flyhalf, with Tawara Kerr-Barlow joining French club La Rochelle after the Rugby Championship and Aaron Cruden already in France.