Kiss changes captain, entire Wallabies forward pack
Les Kiss promised to cast the selection net wide as Wallabies coach this year, and the new boss has followed through on that pledge.
As reported by nine.com.au on Wednesday, Kiss has again overhauled his team for Sunday’s (5am kickoff AEST) clash against Los Pumas in Argentina, as Australia attempt to win a fourth-straight Test for the first time since 2021.
Isaac Henry and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Getty Images
Joseph-Aukuso-Suaalii – Australian rugby’s most expensive player – will be eased back via the bench after missing the win over Japan in Townsville with a hamstring injury.
Kiss will give Queensland Reds centres Hunter Paisami and Isaac Henry a chance to build on their impressive last start together, with fit-again John Eales Medallist Len Ikitau missing out in the match day 23 that was confirmed on Friday (AEST).
That gives Ikitau another week to adjust to Kiss’ new style of play after recovering from an ankle injury, while the debate over Suaalii’s best position is bound to continue after being named on the bench for the first time since 2024.
“He (Suaalii) trained well. There’s an opportunity to maintain some continuity in that midfield, keep it at its right place and utilise Joseph in any way we wish,” Kiss said.
While the starting backline is unchanged, Kiss has given skipper Harry Wilson a breather and handed the captaincy to Allan Alaalatoa.
The entire starting forward pack has been swapped out, with Rob Valetini taking Wilson’s place at No.8, alongside flankers Fraser McReight and Tom Hooper.
Charlie Cale has nabbed a spot on the bench over Carlo Tizzano.
“Now, I need to know that I’ve got two good 15s (teams). That’s what I need to get to,” Kiss told reporters in a call on Friday.
“Each Test match certainly narrows it down, but I don’t want to come down to just the 15. If that number gets larger, then that competitive pressure, I really do believe, can help the team thrive.
“There’s a way we’re thinking to design it without being too cute. Taniela (Tupou) and Lukhan (Salakaia-Loto) really went well, softened up the pack and the other boys came in and finished it off (in Townsville).
“We’re working in different ways, and we’ve reshaped this one, for sure. We think it’s worthwhile exploring this, and we’re balancing it out OK at the moment.
“We’re trying to find out how deep we go in each position. It may not seem like order from what you’re seeing, but it’s making sense internally.”
Wilson has missed just one Test since 2024.
Breakout star Josh Canham has returned to start at lock where he will partner Jeremy Williams.
Alaalatoa starts at tighthead prop after being rested in Townsville.
The ACT Brumbies veteran is one of Australia’s most respected players and also filled in as captain under previous coaches Dave Rennie, Eddie Jones and Joe Schmidt.
“I named a captain, that’s Harry, and obviously when I don’t pick him there’s another captain that steps up,” Kiss said.
“But you know, Harry’s the man who is in. He’s the man that I will back (as captain).
Harry Wilson leading the Wallabies out. Getty Images
“The characteristics that he’s shown in that jersey - he shows his emotion, his footy smarts, he’s a great footy player has the respect of the players, works his bollocks off every time he’s on the pitch.
“The responsibility of that is massive, but I don’t want it to be a weight. I want it to be something that inspires whoever is the captain, and someone who’s been through the mill and doing the job is probably the first person I’ll look to, as we get into ’27.”
Argentina has lost three of four Tests in 2026 but always prove a difficult proposition for the Wallabies.
Australia went 1-1 against Felipe Contepomi’s men last year.
“This team has an uncanny way of getting into your eye-line, into your attack space, and it puts your skills under pressure,” Kiss said.
“So we’ve worked on making sure we understand how that’s going to have an impact on how we can play with the ball.
“We’ve got to be smart and use that kicking game smartly as well.”
The Wallabies have also sent winger Dylan Pietsch back to Australia after suffering a foot injury at training.
Nine.com.au understands that Pietsch had been earmarked to play against the Pumas before his stroke of bad luck.
Argentina coach Contepomi has named Pablo Matera as captain in the absence of Julián Montoya.
The hooker is one of several unavailable France-based stars, along with centre Santiago Chocobares, winger Mateo Carreras and backrower Marcos Kremer.
Australia: 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Isaac Henry, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Carter Gordon, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Rob Valetini, 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Tom Hooper, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Josh Canham, 3-Allan Alaalatoa (c), 2-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1-Isaac Kailea
Reserves: 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, 8-Joaquin Moro, 7-Benjamin Grondona, 6-Pablo Matera (c), 5-Tomas Lavanini, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Moreno, 2-Ignacio Ruiz, 1-Boris Wenger
Reserves: 16-Leonel Oviedo, 17-Rodrigo Martinez, 18-Tomas Rapetti, 19-Efraín Elias, 20-Juan Penoucos, 21-Agustín Moyano, 22-Nicolas Roger, 23-Matias Moroni
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