Wallabies make sweeping changes as injuries bite again
The Wallabies have welcomed back their captain and star midfield duo for Sunday’s (7am AEST) Test in Mendoza, but Les Kiss’ hopes of coaching the first Australian side to win consecutive fixtures in Argentina on the same tour have been hurt by injuries.
As first reported by nine.com.au, halfback Tate McDermott and back-rower Tom Hooper will miss the Test, while playmaker Carter Gordon has been dropped to the bench.
Geronimo Prisciantelli of Argentina scores a try under pressure from Tom Hooper of the Wallabies. Getty Images
Prop Taniela Tupou has replaced last week’s captain Allan Alaalatoa while young Massimo de Lutiis is on the bench again.
Ben Donaldson has come into the starting side for the first time in 2026 and will also partner halfback and goalkicker Ryan Lonergan in a Test for the first time.
Kalani Thomas, who has been waiting in the wings all year, is poised to earn his second Test cap from the bench after debuting against France in Paris in November.
Hooper’s injury sees regular skipper Harry Wilson return at No.8 to rekindle his back-row combination alongside Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini.
They’re not the only tried and tested combination returning either, with centres Len Ikitau and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii back in the midfield despite Hunter Paisami delivering a “smashing” performance alongside Isaac Henry in the Wallabies’ 27-21 win last weekend.
Bruising lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto also returns via the bench where Charlie Cale’s versatility, explosiveness and speed has him favoured over hard on-baller Carlo Tizzano.
“After a physical Test last week, we’ve brought in some fresh bodies alongside some existing combinations as we continue to look to build Test experience across the group,” Kiss said.
“We’re expecting a strong response from Argentina on Saturday (Sunday AEST), and we know we will need to keep stepping up our game in all areas.”
The injury withdrawals are hardly ideal for Kiss, who is hoping to lead the Wallabies to five straight wins for the first time since 2021.
The Test is also an important one for the Wallabies to keep their momentum going, especially with a difficult second half of 2026 looming.
Indeed, after this weekend’s second clash against Los Pumas, Kiss’ gentle entry into the international head coaching arena will come to an end with the Wallabies due to face the Springboks and All Blacks.
The Wallabies will then play England, Scotland and Wales in the second half of this year’s inaugural Nations Championship, which will conclude with a final at Twickenham.
Before then though, the Wallabies are desperate to keep their winning run going to atone for the stumbles in their past two tours to Argentina, having been pumped 48-17 in San Juan and 67-27 in Santa Fe in 2024 after first-up victories in South America.
Winger Max Jorgensen is one of a handful of players who were on the receiving end of the Pumas’ response two years ago in Santa Fe, where the Wallabies exploded out of the blocks in the heat before melting under the South American sun.
“I think a big (motivation) is looking back at two years ago when we were over here last time,” Jorgensen said.
“We had a close win in the first game. It was good to get that, and then went to Santa Fe the week after and put in a pretty poor performance and lost by a fair bit, as everyone knows.
“It obviously hurts deep down losing a Test match by that much, so it’s definitely at the back of our minds for the boys that were there. It’s looking back at that and seeing how we cannot let that happen again.”
Although Felipe Contepomi will still be without a handful of his first-choice stars, including hooker Julian Montoya, versatile hard-man Marcus Kremer, playmaker Tomas Albornoz and centre Santiago Chocobares, Jorgensen said you could “never count the Pumas out.”
While Kiss has cast the net wide during his first month in charge of the Wallabies, the 21-year-old flyer backed the constant tweaking to the side as the new boss runs his eye over his squad.
“With all the changes happening, I don’t think it matters too much,” he said.
“We’re such a tight group, so well-connected. No matter who comes in, in what jersey, we know they’re going to do a job for the team. And yeah, as I said, it actually really doesn’t matter.
“Everyone knows what each player brings and their skill set, knows how to work with them. That connection is there for whoever comes on the field.”
Meanwhile, Argentina have also rung the changes in a bid to try and square the series.
Coach Felipe Contepomi changed the lock pairing with Efrain Elias and Franco Molina coming in for the experienced duo of Guido Petti and Tomas Lavanini.
Petti is moved to flanker where he replaces Benjamin Grondona.
Pedro Delgado is in at tighthead prop in place of Francisco Moreno, who drops to the bench.
Santiago Carreras is switched to fullback to replace Geronimo Prisciantelli, with the inexperienced Nicolas Roger coming at flyhalf, pairing with Simon Benitez Cruz.
Two uncapped players – Facundo Cardozo and Mateo Soler – are named among the replacements.
Cardozo was only promoted to the squad this week when Matias Moroni suffered a face injury.
Pablo Matera, winning his 126th cap, continues as captain in the absence of Julian Montoya, who is one of several overseas-based players unavailable for selection.
WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Ryan Lonergan, Harry Wilson (c), Fraser McReight, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, Taniela Tupou, Billy Pollard, Angus Bell
Reserves: Josh Nasser, Aidan Ross, Massimo De Lutiis, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Charlie Cale, Kalani Thomas, Carter Gordon, Isaac Henry
ARGENTINA (15-1): Santiago Carreras, Rodrigo Isgró, Luico Cinti Luna, Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, Ignacio Mendy, Nicolás Roger, Simón Benítez Cruz, Joaquín Moro, Guido Petti, Pablo Matera (c), Franco Molina, Efraín Elías, Francisco Moreno, Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wegner
Reserves: Leonel Oviedo, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Moreno, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Martin Scelzo, Facundo Cardozo, Gonzalo Bertranou, Mateo Soler
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