Another new captain, 15th debutant for Wallabies

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt says new captain Harry Wilson is about “actions” after naming him to lead the side against Argentina in La Plata on Sunday morning.

Wilson will become the 90th Wallabies captain, and fourth for Schmidt’s sixth Test in charge, replacing Allan Alaalatoa, who will come off the bench among five changes to the starting team that lost 30-12 to South Africa in Perth.

Alaalatoa had been in charge for two Tests after veteran prop James Slipper took over from Liam Wright, who was announced by Schmidt as the Wallabies captain before he was cut down by a shoulder injury in his first game in charge, and the Queenslander hasn’t played since.

“Harry’s been really good for us, and I think he’s led himself really well,” Schmidt said via video on Friday morning.

“He has a natural propensity to express himself well but with very few words. And I don’t think that we want to be doing that much talking, it’s about the actions that he’s going to deliver and lead from the front effectively.”

Hamish Stewart will become the 15th debutant since the new coach took over.

Stewart, 27, will make his debut at inside centre, replacing Hunter Paisami, who suffered an MCL injury against the Springboks.

His Wallabies debut comes after eight seasons in Super Rugby, having started with the Reds as a teenager in 2017 and then moving to the Force.

“He’s a massive team man, Hamish, he’s warmed up for every single Test we’ve played so far this year without getting a run at all,” Schmidt said of Stewart.

“He has contributed to other people being as prepared as we can have them, and it’s great that he’s got the opportunity now to prepare himself to go out in a really big arena where the expectations are going to be high, and the pressure’s going to be just as high.”

Stewart’s elevation has ensured Schmidt has helped set a new Wallabies record, handing out the most Test debuts in a year since 1962 as he battles injuries while trying to find the right line-up to get his team back on the winner’s list.

The Wallabies have dropped to ninth on the world rankings, below Argentina (seventh) and Italy (eighth).

Having travelled to South America earlier this week, Schmidt said his players had worked their way through the jet lag and were ready to fire against the Pumas.

“The players have bounced back from the travel and time difference since arriving in Buenos Aires, with today’s training being our most energetic,” he said.

“For us, we know the Argentinians will enjoy vocal home support but we’ve also had plenty of encouragement from back in Australia, which we have appreciated and will try to justify.”

After missing the two matches against South Africa, Taniela Tupou returns to the front row at tighthead prop, with Nick Frost also returning to the run-on side.

Scrum-half Jake Gordon will start alongside Noah Lolesio in the halves for the fourth time in 2024.

Marika Koroibete, Andrew Kellaway and Tom Wright make up an unchanged back three from the side’s Test in Perth, with Wright having started every Test at fullback so far this season.

Teenager Max Jorgensen has held on to his spot having made his debut against South Africa a fortnight ago and will come off the bench. .

Wallabies v Argentina

Estadio Uno Estudiantes de La Plata

Sunday September 1 at 8:00am AEST

Wallabies: Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hamish Stewart, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon; Harry Wilson (c), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell.

Replacements: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen.