WALLABIES COACH LES Kiss named an entirely different forward pack on Thursday to face Argentina as he continues his policy of rotation, with Harry Wilson rested and prop Allan Alaalatoa captaining the side.
Australia head into the game at Jujuy after back-to-back victories over Japan this month – a narrow 35-32 win in Osaka followed by a 56-17 thrashing at Townsville.
Those ensured that Kiss got his reign off to a winning start ahead of Saturday’s clash. He retained the same backline that ran out in Townsville, but changed all the forwards with regular skipper Wilson given the week off.
Rob Valetini will start in Wilson’s usual No.8 jersey, with Tom Hooper back from a shoulder injury at blindside flanker and Fraser McReight returning on the opposite side of the scrum.
Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams are in the second row with the experienced Alaalatoa in the front row alongside hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Isaac Kailea, who will play his first Test since 2024.
Scrum-half Ryan Lonergan and fly-half Carter Gordon combine for the second consecutive Test as the half-back pairing.
There is also continuity in the midfield with Hunter Paisami and Isaac Henry lining up as the centres while the back three of Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright is unchanged for the fourth consecutive Test.
If Australia win this weekend, they will climb above Argentina into seventh in the world rankings.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi kept faith with the same side that narrowly lost to world champions South Africa for the clash.
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Argentina's head coach Felipe Contepomi. Alamy Stock Photo
Alamy Stock Photo
The Pumas went down 17-10 in a tense one-off Test in Buenos Aires three weeks ago, and with no injuries, an unchanged starting XV was named.
Experienced flanker Pablo Matera again captains the side with regular skipper Julian Montoya unavailable.
Montoya is one of several senior players not considered due to club commitments. That group also includes Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, and Marcos Kremer.
Australia
15. Tom Wright
14. Max Jorgensen
13. Issac Henry
12. Hunter Paisami
11. Harry Potter
10. Carter Gordon
9. Ryan Lonergan
1. Isaac Kailea
2. Brandon Paenga- Amosa
3. Allan Alaalatoa (captain)
4. Josh Canham
5. Jeremy Williams
6. Tom Hooper
7. Fraser McReight
8. Rob Valetini
Replacements:
16. Billy Pollard
17. Angus Bell
18. Massimo De Lutiis
19. Lachlan Shaw
20. Charlie Cale
21. Tate McDermott
22. Ben Donaldson
23. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii
*****
Argentina
15. Geronimo Prisciantelli
14. Rodrigo Isgro
13. Lucio Cinti
12. Faustino Sanchez Valarolo
11. Ignacio Mendy
10. Santiago Carreras
9. Simon Benitez Cruz
1. Boris Wenger
2. Ignacio Ruiz
3. Francisco Moreno
4. Guido Petti
5. Tomas Lavanini
6. Pablo Matera (captain)
7. Benjamin Grondon
8. Joaquin Moro
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Kiss rotates Wallabies forwards for Argentina Test
WALLABIES COACH LES Kiss named an entirely different forward pack on Thursday to face Argentina as he continues his policy of rotation, with Harry Wilson rested and prop Allan Alaalatoa captaining the side.
Australia head into the game at Jujuy after back-to-back victories over Japan this month – a narrow 35-32 win in Osaka followed by a 56-17 thrashing at Townsville.
Those ensured that Kiss got his reign off to a winning start ahead of Saturday’s clash. He retained the same backline that ran out in Townsville, but changed all the forwards with regular skipper Wilson given the week off.
Rob Valetini will start in Wilson’s usual No.8 jersey, with Tom Hooper back from a shoulder injury at blindside flanker and Fraser McReight returning on the opposite side of the scrum.
Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams are in the second row with the experienced Alaalatoa in the front row alongside hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Isaac Kailea, who will play his first Test since 2024.
Scrum-half Ryan Lonergan and fly-half Carter Gordon combine for the second consecutive Test as the half-back pairing.
There is also continuity in the midfield with Hunter Paisami and Isaac Henry lining up as the centres while the back three of Harry Potter, Max Jorgensen and Tom Wright is unchanged for the fourth consecutive Test.
If Australia win this weekend, they will climb above Argentina into seventh in the world rankings.
Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi kept faith with the same side that narrowly lost to world champions South Africa for the clash.
The Pumas went down 17-10 in a tense one-off Test in Buenos Aires three weeks ago, and with no injuries, an unchanged starting XV was named.
Experienced flanker Pablo Matera again captains the side with regular skipper Julian Montoya unavailable.
Montoya is one of several senior players not considered due to club commitments. That group also includes Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, and Marcos Kremer.
Australia
15. Tom Wright
14. Max Jorgensen
13. Issac Henry
12. Hunter Paisami
11. Harry Potter
10. Carter Gordon
9. Ryan Lonergan
1. Isaac Kailea
2. Brandon Paenga- Amosa
3. Allan Alaalatoa (captain)
4. Josh Canham
5. Jeremy Williams
6. Tom Hooper
7. Fraser McReight
8. Rob Valetini
Replacements:
*****
Argentina
15. Geronimo Prisciantelli
14. Rodrigo Isgro
13. Lucio Cinti
12. Faustino Sanchez Valarolo
11. Ignacio Mendy
10. Santiago Carreras
9. Simon Benitez Cruz
1. Boris Wenger
2. Ignacio Ruiz
3. Francisco Moreno
4. Guido Petti
5. Tomas Lavanini
6. Pablo Matera (captain)
7. Benjamin Grondon
8. Joaquin Moro
Replacements:
– © AFP 2026
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Argentina Australia Les Kiss Rugby Teamsheets