Eddie Jones, Rassie Erasmus. Wallabies Springboks Test
Eddie Jones and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images via AFP

Home » Eddie Jones makes 5 Wallaby changes after Springboks thrashing

Eddie Jones makes 5 Wallaby changes after Springboks thrashing

Eddie Jones demanded on Thursday that Australia “roll up their sleeves” as he made five changes to his starting team to face Argentina after being thrashed by South Africa in his first game in charge. ALSO READ | All Blacks reveal new-look side to face Springboks Among those missing for Saturday’s clash in Sydney is injured co-captain Michael Hooper, with Fraser McReight replacing […]

13-07-23 09:30
Eddie Jones, Rassie Erasmus. Wallabies Springboks Test
Eddie Jones and Rassie Erasmus. Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images via AFP

Eddie Jones demanded on Thursday that Australia “roll up their sleeves” as he made five changes to his starting team to face Argentina after being thrashed by South Africa in his first game in charge.

ALSO READ | All Blacks reveal new-look side to face Springboks

Among those missing for Saturday’s clash in Sydney is injured co-captain Michael Hooper, with Fraser McReight replacing him at openside flanker.

MUST FOLLOW | LIVE BLOG: All Blacks v Springboks – Saturday, 15 July 2023

Another key change sees Mark Nawaqanitawase take over from Suliasi Vunivalu on the wing after the rugby league convert’s flat performance in their 43-12 defeat to an understrength Springboks in Pretoria.

Scratch & unlock your share of up to R50 million with Betway!

With the World Cup looming in September, Jones admitted Australia were outplayed by the world champions and said he expected better against an Argentina side that conceded seven tries to New Zealand in a 41-12 defeat at Mendoza last weekend.

ALSO READ | Eben Etzebeth ‘very emotional’ after father’s death

“As a squad we’re running a marathon this year, and we didn’t get off the start line like we wanted to, but we get another opportunity to find our rhythm this weekend against a tough Argentinian side,” said the coach.

“We have two Tests on home soil this year, so we have to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a performance that drives Australians to show pride in the Wallabies.”

‘WILL TAKE TIME’ – EDDIE JONES

Jones cautioned that it will take time for the Wallabies to find their groove.

ALSO READ | Springboks v All Blacks: 20 best pubs to watch LIVE in LONDON

“We are obviously a new team and a new coaching staff, so we are finding out where we are at,” he said.

In the only other backline change, Samu Kerevi, who has been battling a hamstring injury, replaces Reece Hodge at inside centre and partners Len Ikitau in midfield.

Experienced playmaker Quade Cooper and scrumhalf Nic White again run the engine room.

ALSO READ | Springboks and All Blacks meet for the 104th time: Head-to-head record

Jed Holloway will wear the Wallabies jersey for the first time in 2023 after an injured Tom Hooper was ruled out. He lines up at blindside flanker alongside McReight.

Lock Richie Arnold will make his first Test start in place of Nick Frost in the second row.

ALSO READ: Springbok captain suffers personal tragedy ahead of All Blacks game

The front-row remains unchanged with Test centurion James Slipper to skipper the side at loosehead prop, with David Porecki at hooker and Allan Alaalatoa tighthead prop.

Slipper said they had been working on consistency this week, particularly in the scrum and set-pieces.

“If you look back at the scrum (against South Africa) there were things we did really well, so it’s about doing that each scrum, each moment,” he said.

“The set-piece is also such a big area of the game that you have to get right and it’ll be no different against Argentina.”

MUST READ | Springboks goal-kicking dilemma – Faf or Kolbe to kick against NZ?

Argentina coach Michael Cheika – who used to coach the Wallabies – also wielded the axe with four changes to his starting team, promoting former Sevens player Rodrigo Isgro for a debut on the wing.

Prop Francisco Gomez Kodela, flanker Santiago Grondona and centre Jeronimo de la Fuente also come into the side.

Lucio Sordoni, Rodrigo Bruni, Matias Moroni and Sebastian Cancelliere are dropped.

TEAMS

Australia

15 Tom Wright, 14 Mark Nawaqanitawase, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Samu Kerevi, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Richie Arnold, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 David Porecki, 1 James Slipper (captain)

Substitutes: 16 Jordan Uelese, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Pone Fa’amausili, 19 Matt Philip, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Josh Kemeny, 22 Tate McDermott, 23 Carter Gordon

Argentina

15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou,  8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo

Substitutes: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Hahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Matias Moroni.