Harry Wilson has fully recovered from a knee injury to lead Australia against Argentina in Round 3 of the 2025 Rugby Championship in Townsville on Saturday.
Wilson is one of three fresh faces in the starting side with 22-year-old Tom Lynagh selected at flyhalf for what is the side’s first home Test of their Rugby Championship campaign.
Andrew Kellaway has been named at fullback as he edges closer to his 50th appearance in Gold, replacing Tom Wright who unfortunately suffered a season-ending knee injury in Cape Town.
Most recent debutant Corey Toole will play his first Test on home soil after being named on the left wing, with Max Jorgensen completing the back three, selected to start on the right edge having celebrated his 21st birthday during the week in North Queensland.
Lynagh will partner the experienced Nic White in the halves, while Wilson’s return at number eight sees Rob Valetini move to blindside flanker, with Fraser McReight continuing using in the number seven jersey.
Tom Hooper shows his versatility by shifting to the second row to partner club teammate Nick Frost.
Props Tom Robertson and Taniela Tupou are two of nine players in the matchday 23 who took the field in the Wallabies’ only other Test in Townsville back in 2021, which was also against Argentina. Billy Pollard starts at hooker for the fourth straight Test.
Midfield duo Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will look to continue to build cohesion in the centres, in what will be their ninth consecutive start together in Gold.
Brandon Paenga-Amosa is again the replacement hooker, combining with Angus Bell and Queensland’s Zane Nonggorr as the substitute front row.
Western Force pair Jeremy Williams and Carlo Tizzano will cover the back five forward positions.
Queensland captain Tate McDermott will provide spark and energy as the substitute scrumhalf, with experienced James O’Connor named to potentially play his first Test on home soil since 2022. Filipo Daugunu rounds out the matchday 23, returning to the side having last pulled on the Gold jersey against Fiji in Newcastle in July.
“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,” said Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt.
“Los Pumas are a combative and skilled side, and they will be confident after their recent performances. We know we’re going to need to be at our very best on Saturday afternoon.”
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.
