Wallabies restore young star to No.10 jersey as Schmidt looks to future

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt will continue to look to the future after naming Tom Lynagh to return as starting five-eighth Argentina in Townsville on Saturday.

Lynagh missed the two-Test series against South Africa after suffering a concussion in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions when hit by an illegal elbow to the head by Dan Sheehan, but returns to the No.10 jersey where he will reunite with veteran halfback Nic White.

Schmidt said he was confident Lynagh was physically and mentally ready to face the Pumas after some rough treatment at the hands of the Lions.

“He’s only really slotted back in with us this week, but I caught up with Tom during the week [and] we went through a few of the things that we’re trying to build into our game,” Schmidt said. “He’s pretty studious, so he knows how we’re trying to play.

“The experience of his first three Test match starts that were against the Lions – that’s a nice, easy way to ease your way in. It got very physical, and obviously some of that was untoward, and he’s bounced back from that really well.

“We’ve got him double-checked, and we want to be as prudent with him as possible. He’s very keen to play and will kick us off, really.”

Schmidt also highlighted the experience of White as a crucial factor in Lynagh’s return to the starting line-up.

“I think if we didn’t have his [White’s] experience, it would be a bit harder for Tom Lynagh, but Nic takes a lot of the pressure off,” Schmidt said. “If we need to make a kick, it might be Tom. Tom’s got a nice long kicking game, but it can just as easily be Nic White, and he’s very efficient in that area.”

James O’Connor, who deputised for Lynagh in South Africa, moves to the bench. The veteran playmaker offers extensive backline coverage given his ability to play centre, fullback and wing if necessary, as well as five-eighth.

Schmidt has opted for veteran Andrew Kellaway to replace the injured Tom Wright at fullback ahead of his Waratahs teammates Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Max Jorgensen, who both have experience in the position in Super Rugby.

Schmidt also rewarded Tom Hooper for his strong form with an extended run in the starting team, moving the Exeter-bound forward from breakaway to fill the huge boots of Will Skelton in the second row against a confident Argentina team fresh off a historic win over New Zealand in Buenos Aires last Saturday.

Hooper, who will join his new team after the Rugby Championship, has played five out of the last six Wallabies Tests, impressing in the lineout and also as a robust carrier.

There is no place for Lukhan Salakaia-Loto on the bench, despite impressive performances for the First Nations and Pasifika XV and the AUNZ XV against the British and Irish Lions. Instead, Force second-rower Jeremy Williams will provide cover.

Hooper’s ability to play in the second row allows Rob Valetini to move back to his regular Test position of blindside breakaway and captain Harry Wilson to return at No.8 after recovering from a knee injury.

Brumbies winger Corey Toole will earn his second cap after impressing in the defeat against South Africa in Cape Town, scoring a try and also leading the Wallabies with three turnovers.

Taniela Tupou continues at tighthead prop after two impressive performances in South Africa against world-class loosehead Ox Nche in the scrum, and will be joined in the front row by loosehead prop Tom Robertson and hooker Billy Pollard.

Schmidt reported that tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa is “tracking really well” in training as he manages a shoulder injury and could be in contention for selection against Argentina in Sydney.

Filipo Daugunu is preferred to Harry Potter as backline cover on the bench, alongside halfback Tate McDermott.

The two Tests against the Pumas are vital to the Wallabies’ quest to secure a top-six seeding for the World Cup draw in December.

Argentina currently sit seventh, just 1.45 ranking points behind sixth-placed Australia, and a victory for the Pumas in Townsville would see them leapfrog the Wallabies.

Argentina have made three changes to the side that beat New Zealand in Buenos Aires, with prop Joel Sclavi replacing tighthead Pedro Delgado, Marcos Kremer in for Juan Martin Gonzalez and Santiago Carreras replacing the injured five-eighth Tomas Albornoz.

Coach Felipe Contepomi said the emotional high of beating New Zealand for the first time in Argentina would not distract his team against the Wallabies.

“Sport is a very interesting thing. The way I see it, I hate losing more than I love winning,” Contepomi said. “So for me, it’s like [the celebration] lasts however long it lasts in that dressing room and then I get out and I’m already starting to think about the next job.

“So for us, it’s like starting from zero the following day. Since Sunday, after beating the All Blacks we’ve started from zero, we are preparing for Australia and we are trying to focus on being our best version.”

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