Holmes return to Wallabies starting side after 8 years – Fijivillage :: Fiji’s

The Pumas had an historic win here last October, overcoming a 14-0 deficit to beat Australia 21-17 to claim their first victory ever in the Rugby Championship – it took 18 tests against the three southern hemisphere heavyweights before the milestone was achieved.

Foley was impressed by Cooper’s offering in the Wallabies’ opening win over South Africa in Brisbane last weekend.

“We have two fine playmakers in Quade and Bernard”.

Flyhalf Bernard Foley, who missed an attempt at goal that could have levelled the score late in the second half at Mendoza last year, makes his return in a halves pairing with Nick Phipps, restoring the main No. 9-10 combination of 2014.

After the test against Argentina, Australia have only back-to-back matches against world champions New Zealand and a test against the United States in Chicago before the World Cup.

“The bench got us home against the Springboks last weekend and I will be looking for an even greater impact from our replacements this Saturday”, stressed Cheika.

“That competitive nature of these trainings and of every session is really bringing out the best in the team”.

Cheika resisted the temptation to start his two world-class fetchers – Pocock and Hooper – together in his backrow and recalled Ben McCalman at No. 8 in place of Scott Higginbotham, who drops out of the match squad.

Phipps takes over from the injured Will Genia while Foley comes in at first five, with Cooper dropping to the bench.

Wallabies prop Greg Holmes has returned to the Wallabies starting side for the first time in eight years as part of a raft of changes ahead of Saturday night’s clash with Argentina.

Five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez and fullback Santiago Cordero are the only survivors in a new-look Argentina backline to face Australia in the Rugby Championship in Mendoza.

Forward changes see lock Tomas Lavanini and flanker Javier Ortega Desio replace Guido Petti Pagadizabal and Juan Manuel Leguizamon.

Argentina: Cordero Santiago, Gonzalo Camacho, Matias Moroni, Juan Pablo Socino, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Facundo Isa, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Javier Desio, Tomas Lavanini, Manuel Carizza, Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy (captain), Marcos Ayerza.

Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua and Joe Tomane have been chosen to replace injured trio Will Genia (knee), Matt Giteau (chest) and Rob Horne (calf), while Greg Holmes, Ben McCalman, David Pocock and Bernard Foley have all been promoted, the Australian Rugby Union announced on Thursday.

Replacements: 16-Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17-Scott Sio, 18-Sekope Kepu, 19-Dean Mumm, 20-Michael Hooper, 21-Nic White, 22-Quade Cooper, 23-Kurtley Beale.