Rugby Championship 2025: Wallabies v Argentina

[rugbyAU]

Some news on the injury front coming into Townsville - Wilson, Slipper, Gordon and Lynagh are set to be available, White and JAS should be fine, but Joe may not play them if they don't train the full test week.

Donaldson's injury is unknown but will likely struggle to be fit and an update on Wright should be made very soon.

 

[Red Runner]

Is AAA not due back for the RC?

So???

1 Slipper
2 Pollard
3 Tupou
4 Skelton
5 Frost
6 Valetini
7 McReight
8 Wilson (c)
9 Gordon
10 Lynagh
11 Jorgenson
12 Paisami
13 Ikitau
14 Toole
15 Kellaway

16 BPA
17 Bell
18 Nonggorr
19 Williams
20 Hooper
21 McDermott
22 O'Connor
23 Daugunu

Assuming Joe focuses on consistency of selection? Taking that further he may want to keep Ikitau at 12 meaning Flook or Daugunu at 13.

 

[rugbyAU]

Is AAA not due back for the RC?

So???

1 Slipper
2 Pollard
3 Tupou
4 Skelton
5 Frost
6 Valetini
7 McReight
8 Wilson (c)
9 Gordon
10 Lynagh
11 Jorgenson
12 Paisami
13 Ikitau
14 Toole
15 Kellaway

16 BPA
17 Bell
18 Nonggorr
19 Williams
20 Hooper
21 McDermott
22 O'Connor
23 Daugunu

Assuming Joe focuses on consistency of selection? Taking that further he may want to keep Ikitau at 12 meaning Flook or Daugunu at 13.

AA is certainly not back for Arg, initially there were concerns it was a season ending injury

Agree with your team

 

[Wilson]

I think BPA may start over Pollard after his throwing issues the last two weeks. I don't think we'll otherwise see changes to the hookers though, Faessler is probably going to have to play his way back via super au given his limited minutes this season.

 

[Red Runner]

Fes a good boost for brothers next weekend perhaps.

 

[BDA]

Hard to see donaldson getting a run even if he is fit...connor's probably done enough to take his bench spot for now imo

 

[BDA]

Just watching the arg v nz game.. man this 2 game series in Oz is gonna be fire... Arg have recent vwins against the Lions and the All Blacks, the Wallabies with wins against the lions and the boks. Hard to remember the last home tests against argentina that might have attracted as much interest as this one. Two teams on the rise, very well matched i expect. Id be surprised if these games arent a sell out. Nice to have this level of excitement in the RC again.

 

[rugbyAU]

Just watching the arg v nz game.. man this 2 game series in Oz is gonna be fire... Arg have recent vwins against the Lions and the All Blacks, the Wallabies with wins against the lions and the boks. Hard to remember the last home tests against argentina that might have attracted as much interest as this one. Two teams on the rise, very well matched i expect. Id be surprised if these games arent a sell out. Nice to have this level of excitement in the RC again.

Argentina had two poor losses to England A in between though, like the Wallabies they're inconsistent

 

[lpd]

Wonder if we might see Salakaia-Loto - feel he would just add more of a point of difference than de Crespigny and Williams

 

[Rugby Head]

Wonder if we might see Salakaia-Loto - feel he would just add more of a point of difference than de Crespigny and Williams

I think he's due, has now spent some time in camp after initially being overlooked.

 

[Slim 293]

Unless a player needs a rest or there's another injury, I don't see how LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) squeezes in if Wilson returns...

I think it's unlikely any of the three locks drop out, and then there's a log jam for backrow spots with Valetini, McReight, Wilson, Hooper, and Gleeson.

 

[Tomthumb]

Yeah I don't see where he fits in if Skelton stays. Williams has been great off the bench IMO and Hooper probably takes the other bench spot

If Skelton is out I can see him coming in, but honestly I'd prefer Hooper at lock with Wilson back

 

[parkfootyenthusiast2]

LSL (Lukhan Salakaia-Loto) seems purely in as a like-for-like-ish replacement for Skelton when/if he inevitably departs.

Would be very Joe just to pick Kellaway at 15 but I'd love to see Jorgo or JAS slide back there to get them some extra touches. Opens up plenty of options to cover. Paisami would be raring to go and you could shift Len back to 13, Daungunu and Flook also around but I don't love either one of them. Daungunu could find his way to a start on the wing however if one of them slides back. I genuinely have no idea who's the next man up as a 1 for 1 wing replacement. I LOVE Tristan Reilley but he's probably a bit too hot and cold for Joe's liking, his overraching desire to always go for the pick 6 probably a bit too much of an unknown for test footy at this stage.

Hopefully Lynagh can bring a bit more security around the goal kicking, I think I've seen enough of JOC (James O'Connor) at this point, fantastic replacement level value and we always be loved for that Ellis Park victory, but maybe he reverts at best back to a bench coverage role and to reprise his Crusaders role on the national team.

Wildly weird spot to be in where we have 4-5 back rowers screaming for selection based on form, 4-5 props who've all been good enough to hold down a strong scrum with some ball carrying to boot, 2-3 hookers who are international quality and 3 second rowers who've all been great of late. It's nice though, I like it here.

 

[Ignoto]

I could see there being a case to giving big Will an extra week off. For me, the end goal is to beat the All Blacks twice so whatever we can do to ensure Will is able to give us the best performance over those two legs is what Joe and Co should be aiming for.

I wouldn't be rushing back any of the head knocks including Lynagh and Slipper. Tane and JOC (James O'Connor) did enough to show they should be ok to handle the Pumas. Perhaps James gets the second Puma test off in case Ben isn't ready for the All Blacks.

Ross should be starting with James being given extra time off.

 

[Wilson]

I expect at this stage Salakaia-Loto is going to get his chance when Skelton is rested or unavailable, which may end up happening in one of the Argentina games given his long season, but is probably more likely for the Japan game and EOYT.

 

[fatprop]

Hard to see donaldson getting a run even if he is fit...connor's probably done enough to take his bench spot for now imo

There were comments that JOC (James O'Connor) was running around on one leg on the weekend, lets see who is standing

 

[Backintheolddays]

I’m a big fan of JAS and think the centre partnership is coming along well though still plenty of room for improvement. They certainly haven’t been nursed into the roles but thrown in the deep end and despite the quality of opposition have held their own, with some criticism due.
I really look forward to this combination in ‘27 with a 10 that create some space for them. They’ll be world class.
One ask I do have, being a little old school, is instead of Len doing all the trucking up that we get a few flat cut passes to JAS at pace, hard and straight (a la Mortlock in his hey day). I cannot see too many opponents relishing that opportunity.

 

[Major Tom]

Argentinian flyhalf Tomas Albornoz is out for both games with dislocated finger.

 

[Slim 293]

Wallabies Casualty Ward: Backline stocks face baptism by fire against Argentina

The Wallabies are set for a crucial week off before they take the field against Los Pumas for the first of two matches in Townsville, and Joe Schmidt faces a backline reschuffle thanks to several significant injuries.

www.rugby.com.au

Likely Unavailable:
Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Potter, Tom Wright, Dylan Pietsch

Unsure/Potential Return:
Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Tom Lynagh

Potential Inclusions:
Kurtley Beale, Andy Muirhead, Joey Walton, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell

Available:
Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Corey Toole, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart

Wallabies Casualty Ward: Forward depth to be tested as Los Pumas loom large

Joe Schmidt faces several massive headaches, with at least 13 starting players injured and several back up options also injured. Here's how the Wallabies forwards stocks stack up

www.rugby.com.au

Likely Unavailable:
Massimo De Lutiis, Allan Ala'alatoa, Charlie Cale, Luke Reimer, Matt Faessler, Lachlan Lonergan, Liam Wright, Blake Schoupp, Harry Johnson-Holmes

Unsure/Potential Return:
James Slipper, Harry Wilson, Taniela Tupou, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Nic Dolly

Potential Inclusions:
Charlie Gamble, Seru Uru, Josh Canham

Available:
Josh Nasser, Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson, Rhys van Nek, Angus Bell, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakia-Loto, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini

 

[Major Tom]

Wallabies Casualty Ward: Backline stocks face baptism by fire against Argentina

The Wallabies are set for a crucial week off before they take the field against Los Pumas for the first of two matches in Townsville, and Joe Schmidt faces a backline reschuffle thanks to several significant injuries.

www.rugby.com.au

Likely Unavailable:
Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Potter, Tom Wright, Dylan Pietsch

Unsure/Potential Return:
Tate McDermott, James O’Connor, Joseph Aukuso-Sua'ali'i, Nic White, Ben Donaldson, Tom Lynagh

Potential Inclusions:
Kurtley Beale, Andy Muirhead, Joey Walton, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Jock Campbell

Available:
Ryan Lonergan, Tane Edmed, Josh Flook, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Corey Toole, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart

Wallabies Casualty Ward: Forward depth to be tested as Los Pumas loom large

Joe Schmidt faces several massive headaches, with at least 13 starting players injured and several back up options also injured. Here's how the Wallabies forwards stocks stack up

www.rugby.com.au

Likely Unavailable:
Massimo De Lutiis, Allan Ala'alatoa, Charlie Cale, Luke Reimer, Matt Faessler, Lachlan Lonergan, Liam Wright, Blake Schoupp, Harry Johnson-Holmes

Unsure/Potential Return:
James Slipper, Harry Wilson, Taniela Tupou, Isaac Aedo Kailea, Nic Dolly

Potential Inclusions:
Charlie Gamble, Seru Uru, Josh Canham

Available:
Josh Nasser, Billy Pollard, Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Aidan Ross, Tom Robertson, Rhys van Nek, Angus Bell, Nick Frost, Will Skelton, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakia-Loto, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini

Bloody hell. Might as well have named every super rugby au player