Joe Schmidt had made three changes to his Wallabies line-up to face Argentina in Round Three of the Rugby Championship – and also recalled Carlo Tizzano for bench duty in his first involvement since the fall-out from that much-debated breakdown against the British and Irish Lions.
The Wallabies were defending a second Test lead in Melbourne on July 26 when back-rower Tizzano was cleared out at a ruck by Jac Morgan in the build-up to the Hugo Keenan try that clinched the Test series for the Lions with one match to spare.
Morgan’s tackle and the reaction of Tizzano to the collision ignited a huge debate, which included Australia head coach Schmidt speaking angrily at his post-game media briefing at the MCG.
The controversy left Tizzano accused of diving and subjected to an outpouring of social media abuse, and he was stood down from the series finale in Sydney and has since missed the opening two rounds of the Rugby Championship.
Wilson restored as captain
With Australia now in Townsville, preparing for Round Three after winning one match in South Africa and narrowly losing another, Tizzano is poised for his first action in six weeks as he has been selected on the bench in place of Nicholas Champion de Crespigny, providing back-up to a starting XV showing three changes from the 22-30 loss in Cape Town.
The fit-again Harry Wilson has been restored as captain at number eight, with the unavailable second-rower Will Skelton missing out in the only change to the run-on pack. Wilson’s inclusion sees back-rower Tom Hooper shifted to lock.
In the backs, Tom Lynagh has recovered from his Lions series injury and will start at No.10 in place of the benched James O’Connor while Andrew Kellaway, a sub last time out against the Springboks, will start in place of long-term injury victim Tom Wright.
O’Connor’s demotion to the bench has resulted in the exclusion of Tane Edmed from the matchday squad, while Filipo Daugunu has been named 23rd man with sub Kellaway now set to start.
In a statement, Schmidt said: “The players have reassembled after a few days’ break, following our two games in South Africa, and worked their way through a very warm week here in Townsville.
“Los Pumas are a combative and skilled side, and they will be confident after their recent performances. We know we are going to need to be at our very best on Saturday afternoon.”
The team
Australia: 15 Andrew Kellaway, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Corey Toole, 10 Tom Lynagh, 9 Nic White, 8 Harry Wilson (c), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Tom Hooper, 4 Nick Frost, 3 Taniela Tupou, 2 Billy Pollard, 1 Tom Robertson
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Angus Bell, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Jeremy Williams, 20 Carlo Tizzano, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 James O’Connor, 23 Filipo Daugunu
Date: Saturday, September 6
Venue: Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Kick-off: 14:30 (AUS), 4:30 (GMT), 16:30 (NZL), 6:30 (RSA), 1:30 (ARG)
Referee: Paul Williams (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Christophe Ridley (RFU), Sam Grove-White (SRU)
TMO: Mike Adamson (SRU)
FPRO: Glenn Newman (NZR)