Wallabies coach Eddie Jones makes five changes to team to play Argentina

Eddie Jones has reacted swiftly to an opening horror show for the Wallabies in South Africa, making mass changes for the clash with Argentina.

Eddie Jones is looking for a much better performance from the Wallabies. Picture: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones remains in no rush to “throw” emerging flyhalf Carter Gordon into Australia’s starting team, again preferring the experience of veteran playmaker Quade Cooper for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against Argentina in Sydney.

Despite Jones wielding the axe following last weekend’s thrashing by South Africa by making five changes to his starting 15, including dropping NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu, 35-year-old Cooper has kept his spot.

Gordon came on in the 69th minute for Cooper in Pretoria, and scored a late try on debut in the Wallabies’ humbling 43-12 loss to the Springboks.

“Carter’s coming through beautifully – I couldn’t be happier with him,” Jones said on Thursday.

“He’s one out one back. We’re just holding him back at the moment and then we’ll let him go when we get over the rise. We’re not at the rise yet.

“What I don’t want to do is throw him in. I want him to be ready to go.

“He’s a great young player, but he’s a young kid at the moment and he’s finding his feet.”

Jones said had Cooper not been replaced against South Africa, he might have finished the game as strongly as Gordon did such was the “quick ball” and abundance of space on offer.

“Quade (is) coming back from a serious Achilles injury, so we want to give him some time,” the Wallabies coach said.

Winger Suliasi Vunivalu has been axed. Picture: Phill Magakoe / AFP

Waratahs winger Mark Nawaqanitawase will replace Vunivalu, who was sin-binned in Pretoria.

“It is not about guys solidifying positions, it’s about building depth, so we can take a team to the World Cup (in September), and in every position have three players with the quality we need to have,” Jones said.

“We don’t have that at the moment in all positions, so we are aiming to do that.”

With co-captain Michael Hooper ruled out with a calf injury, Queensland Reds flanker Fraser McReight will wear the No.7 jersey.

“Fraser has trained really well and impressed in the three weeks I have seen him, and I think he can do a fantastic job for us,” said Jones, who added that while Hooper’s injury was “small”, he was “too valuable a player to risk for this Test”.

Richie Arnold has been named to make his first Test start, and will combine with fellow France-based lock Will Skelton in the second row.

Jed Holloway has been named at blindside flanker at the expense of the injured Tom Hooper, while powerful centre Samu Kerevi will start, replacing the axed Reece Hodge.

“We didn’t have a number in place but we were always going to make some changes.” Jones said.

“As a squad, we’re running a marathon this year, and we didn’t get off the start line like we wanted to, but we get another opportunity to find our rhythm this weekend against a tough Argentinian side.

“We have two Tests on home soil this year, so we have to have to roll up our sleeves on Saturday and put in a performance that drives Australians to show pride in the Wallabies.”

Wallabies coach Eddie Jones has wielded the axe. Picture: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images

WALLABIES TEAM TO PLAY ARGENTINA

1. James Slipper (c) (128 Tests)

2. David Porecki (11 Tests)

3. Allan Alaalatoa (65 Tests)

4. Richie Arnold (1 Test)

5. Will Skelton (25 Tests)

6. Jed Holloway (10 Tests)

7. Fraser McReight (10 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (31 Tests)

9. Nic White (60 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (77 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (52 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (42 Tests)

13. Len Ikitau (27 Tests)

14. Mark Nawaqanitawase (3 Tests)

15. Tom Wright (24 Tests)

Reserves:

Jordan Uelese

Angus Bell

Pone Fa’amausili

Matt Philip

Rob Leota

Josh Kemeny

Tate McDermott

Carter Gordon

Originally published as Wallabies coach Eddie Jones makes five changes to team to play Argentina