Wallabies lose skipper as Eddie swings the axe

1 year ago 100

Fraser McReight volition marque a uncommon Test commencement astatine No.7 aft Wallabies co-captain Michael Hooper was ruled retired of Saturday's clash with Argentina with a calf injury.

McReight's accidental is 1 of 5 changes to Eddie Jones' starting XV connected the backmost of Sunday's disfigured 43-12 nonaccomplishment to South Africa.

Richie Arnold volition marque his archetypal Test commencement - forming a elephantine fastener pairing with Will Skelton - portion winger Suliasi Vunivalu has been dropped for Mark Nawaqanitawase.

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Samu Kerevi bolsters the midfield successful spot of Reece Hodge portion flanker Jed Holloway comes successful for Tom Hooper.

Quade Cooper has retained the No.10 jersey up of Carter Gordon, who is 1 of lone 2 backs connected a seat featuring the instrumentality from wounded of prop Angus Bell.

"We've got a benignant of unsmooth program of what we privation to do," Jones said.

"Our purpose is to get to the World Cup successful the champion presumption and we've got 5 games to bash it. We're evidently a caller team, caller coaching staff, truthful we're conscionable uncovering retired wherever we're at. So we didn't person a fig successful place, but we were ever going t. marque immoderate changes."

Jones said Hooper should beryllium moving again by Friday.

"It's lone a tiny wounded but it's excessively invaluable a subordinate to hazard for this Test... we've got a mates of different options we're looking astatine successful presumption of that 7 position. But Fraser's trained truly well, impressed successful the 3 weeks I've seen him, and I deliberation helium tin bash a fantastic occupation for us."

NEW PODCAST: Special impermanent Nick Phipps helps the unit unpack an disfigured Wallabies nonaccomplishment successful Pretoria and enactment retired however to enactment things close successful Sydney against the Pumas

WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Mark Nawaqanitawase, Len Ikitau, Samu Kerevi, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Jed Holloway, Will Skelton, Richie Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Dave Porecki, James Slipper (c)

Reserves: Jordan Uelese, Angus Bell, Pone Fa'amausili, Matt Philip, Rob Leota, Josh Kemeny, Tate McDermott, Carter Gordon

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