Schmidt wants actions not words after naming Wilson as Wallabies captain

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt has named the fourth captain of his tenure with Queensland Reds No.8 Harry Wilson to lead the team out against Argentina in La Plata on Saturday night (Sunday AEST).

Wilson’s promotion to become the 90th Wallabies captain marks an impressive year for the Gunnedah junior, given his return to international rugby in July against Georgia after last playing in gold under former coach Dave Rennie against New Zealand in September 2022.

After suffering from a broken arm for the Reds playing against the Rebels in May, Wilson has forced his way not only into the Wallabies starting lineup, but has established himself as a leader who Schmidt believes will lead the team with actions, not words.

“Harry’s been really good for us, and I think he’s led himself really well,” Schmidt said. “He has a natural propensity to express himself well, but with very few words.

“I don’t think that we want to be doing too much talking. It’s about the actions that he’s going to deliver and lead from the front, effectively.”

Schmidt initially used Wilson’s Reds’ back-row teammate Liam Wright as skipper in his first Test as coach against Wales, before giving the leadership role to props James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa.

Alaalatoa drops to the bench after captaining the Wallabies in the past two Tests against South Africa, with Taniela Tupou returning to the starting lineup after missing both Tests against South Africa due to the death of his father.

Slipper will likely get an opportunity to equal halfback George Gregan’s record for most appearances as a Wallaby with 139 caps in the second Test against the Pumas in Santa Fe next Saturday.

Schmidt conceded that the decision to rest the veteran prop was made weeks before in preparation for the birth of his second child which delayed his arrival to Argentina.

“I had the discussion with ‘Slips’ a couple of weeks ago,” Schmidt said. “He was joining us late after his new addition and that’s pretty exciting for him, so he’s had enough excitement for one week, I think.

“He’s come in and helped other guys prepare really well, because he is such a team-orientated, squad-orientated player, so that was already probably a preconceived plan, to be honest.”

Waratahs’ new loosehead Isaac Kailea will deputise for his clubmate Angus Bell who will look to put in another strong performance after his impressive comeback from injury against South Africa in Perth.

Western Force centre Hamish Stewart is rewarded with his first cap due to the injury of Hunter Paisami and will partner Len Ikitau in the middle of the field.

Harry Wilson becomes Schmidt’s fourth captain of his tenure against the PumasCredit: Getty Images

After missing the Wallabies’ last Test defeat against South Africa in Perth, Waratahs captain Jake Gordon returns at halfback where he will partner with Brumbies’ five-eighth Noah Lolesio for the fourth time in 2024.

Abrasive Brumbies second-rower Nick Frost also returns to the side after missing the last Test in Perth, forming a physical partnership with Lukhan Salakaia-Loto.

The Wallabies will play their first Test on Saturday in Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, normally the home of soccer club Estudiantes in what will be the final international appearance for the Pumas’ legendary 39-year-old hooker Agustín Creevy.

The field is notably shorter and narrower compared to grounds in Australia and the Wallabies will be forced to adapt their kicking game given the heavy rain forecast for the game.

Winger Andrew Kellaway is hoping that the conditions will not play as large a role as they did in the second Test defeat against South Africa in Perth.

“We’ve all seen the forecast and all sort of had a good look at that, and here’s hoping it’s not quite monsoonal like it was in Perth,” Kellaway said. ”I think (Perth) it was probably the first time this year, with the exception of Melbourne that we really had a game in the rain.

“(We’re) looking forward to getting out there and it’s a whole different ballgame in those conditions.”

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