Pumas v Wallabies 2
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The Wallabies’ winter of disruption has continued with senior prop Allan Ala’alatoa withdrawing from selection for the second Test in San Juan due to a family bereavement.
Ala’alatoa became the latest player to fly home from Argentina on Tuesday, following the departures of Dave Porecki and Michael Hooper last week.It will force the Wallabies an even bigger reshuffle than planned following the injury to Quade Cooper.
Taniela Tupou is the obvious candidate to return to the starting team but Rebels tighthead prop Pone Fa’amausili is on tour and could finally make his Test debut, after many years on the fringes.
The 130kg giant was first called up to the Wallabies in 2020 but has struggled with injuries.Captain James Slipper switched to tighthead against England in the second Test, when Ala’alatoa suffered a concussion. However, he is probably more needed at loosehead, given the absence of Angus Bell and Scott Sio and with Matt Gibbon’s inexperience. Coach Dave Rennie has also appeared reluctant to use Tom Robertson recently.
The Wallabies have been forced to make changes after every Test this year, with a combination of injury, suspension and personal issues seeing multiple players shuffling in and out of the team. The squad’s capacity to change personnel but still perform at a high level is something they take pride in.
“It is something we prepare for,” back Jordan Petaia said.
“You never know what is going to happen out there, so you have to prepare for the worst. We have a strong culture here and a strong group of men that have built pretty sure strong traits. It is like a brotherhood where we will put our body on the line for each other, so i think that helps out on the field.”Utility back Reece Hodge said he doesn’t believe the modern game is any more dangerous than usual but luck is a key factor.
“Every squad goes through periods where they are unlucky,” he said.
“Some teams get lucky through periods and they win, but the best teams win when they are going through periods that are quite tough.
We have gone through one over the last two or three months but the fact we are developing great depth in the squad, and the next-man-up mentality we are developing, that will go a long way to hopefully getting performances together that we can be proud of.“But also the most important thing in Test match rugby is winning matches.”
The choice for Cooper’s replacement will end up being between Noah Lolesio and James O’Connor. The former has runs on the board from the recent England series but O’Connor has finally shaken off some niggling injuries and is desperate for a chance to return to the Wallabies team.“We have two world-class No.10s,” Hodge said. “Noah steered us to a series win against France last year and was very solid in that England series as well.
“James O’Connor has played 50-plus caps for his country and his form at the start of the season with the Reds was outstanding, he was probably one of the best players in the competition.
“So we have two really good options there.”Surely they give Lolesio 1st 5. JOC looked well short of gallop when he came off the bench against England.
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@ACT-Crusader there's bad luck and then there's shit luck.
Agree that Lolesio should be next in line. The losses to England weren't his fault unles he was one of the forwards getting six shades bashed out of him.
We'll need to give him as much experience as possible, because I don't see Quade or JOC making RWC2023 with their age and injury history.
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1/. James Slipper (c) (118 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (29 Tests)
3. Taniela Tupou (41 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (29 Tests)
5. Darcy Swain (12 Tests)
6. Jed Holloway (1 Test)
7. Fraser McReight (3 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (22 Tests)
9. Nic White (51 Tests)
10. James O'Connor (63 Tests)
11. Marika Koroibete (46 Tests)
12. Lalakai Foketi (1 Test)
13. Len Ikitau (16 Tests)
14. Jordan Petaia (19 Tests)
15. Tom Wright (13 Tests)Replacements
16. Lachlan Lonergan (5 Tests)
17. Matt Gibbon (1 Test)
18. Pone Fa'amausili*
19. Nick Frost (3 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (23 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (16 Tests)
22. Irae Simone (2 Tests)
23. Reece Hodge (56 Tests)*denotes uncapped
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Second win for Oz
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15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matias Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo
Reserves: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Facundo Isa, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Lucio Cinti
Argentina: Juan Imhoff starts in one of four changes for Australia rematch
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has made four changes in personnel to his starting line-up that will take on Australia in San Juan on Saturday.
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@MiketheSnow said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
Second win for Oz
Yup probably a similar script to last game, I reckon
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@Machpants said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
@MiketheSnow said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
Second win for Oz
Yup probably a similar script to last game, I reckon
Will depend on discipline - Wallabies have been slow to start and often caught on the wrong side of the whistle. That reversed in the second half as the Pumas felt the lash of Adamson's hatred.
If the Pumas clean up a bit of their defence it could turn around I think.
I'll be sitting on the couch Sunday morning, quietly enjoying the fact that my rugby season is over. Thank fuck.
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Wallabies injury curse strikes again: Fainga’a out, Pollard to debut
Rookie pair Lachlan Lonergan and Billy Pollard have been promoted after Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a suffered a concussion at training.
The Wallabies will do another sweep for black cats and broken mirrors after concussed hooker Folau Fainga’a became the latest withdrawal from the second Test against Argentina, forcing Lachlan Lonergan to start and Billy Pollard onto the bench for a potential debut.
After a two-week tour that has already seen Dave Porecki, Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Hunter Paisami and Allan Ala’alatoa all fly home, Fainga’a suffered a head knock at the Wallabies’ training session on Thursday. He reported symptoms and failed a test on Friday morning.
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@NTA said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
Rookie pair Lachlan Lonergan and Billy Pollard have been promoted after Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a suffered a concussion at training.
The Wallabies will do another sweep for black cats and broken mirrors after concussed hooker Folau Fainga’a became the latest withdrawal from the second Test against Argentina, forcing Lachlan Lonergan to start and Billy Pollard onto the bench for a potential debut.
After a two-week tour that has already seen Dave Porecki, Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Hunter Paisami and Allan Ala’alatoa all fly home, Fainga’a suffered a head knock at the Wallabies’ training session on Thursday. He reported symptoms and failed a test on Friday morning.
An injury curse is preferable to a coach curse.
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@Crucial said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
@NTA said in Pumas v Wallabies 2:
Rookie pair Lachlan Lonergan and Billy Pollard have been promoted after Wallabies hooker Folau Fainga’a suffered a concussion at training.
The Wallabies will do another sweep for black cats and broken mirrors after concussed hooker Folau Fainga’a became the latest withdrawal from the second Test against Argentina, forcing Lachlan Lonergan to start and Billy Pollard onto the bench for a potential debut.
After a two-week tour that has already seen Dave Porecki, Michael Hooper, Quade Cooper, Hunter Paisami and Allan Ala’alatoa all fly home, Fainga’a suffered a head knock at the Wallabies’ training session on Thursday. He reported symptoms and failed a test on Friday morning.
An injury curse is preferable to a coach curse.
More an Admin curse than a Coach curse.
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Fast start for the Pumas with two quick tries.
Now Wallabies hit back with a good lineout move and run by Valetini and Slipper gets the try
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Rip roaring start
Arg 14-7 Aus
13 mins gone -
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Anthony Seibold on the panel??
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