Rugby Championship: Wallabies confirm Greg Holmes will make record-breaking comeback this weekend

Western Force prop Greg Holmes will make history in the Wallabies’ final clash of the Rugby Championship this weekend.

Greg Holmes is set to become the oldest Wallaby since World War II when he lines up in the gold jersey for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on the Gold Coast.

Holmes, 38, last played for the national side in June, 2016 and is one of a handful of changes to the side that beat the Pumas in Townsville last week.

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Holmes’ road to a Wallabies recall began with an invitation to the Bledisloe Cup luncheon in Perth a month ago.

There, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie asked the Western Force prop to attend one of the national side’s training sessions.

Holmes assumed the invitation related to coaching, given he has begun putting out feelers to transition into that side of the game upon his retirement.

He was taken aback when he realised Rennie’s real motivations, and a matter of weeks later, is gearing up to surpass Tony Miller as the oldest Wallaby of the post-war era.

Rennie said he was delighted to have the big man back in the side.

“He’s gone really well. We think he’s ready to go, he’ll do a job for us,” Rennie said.

“It was a massive roar from the lads (when Holmes was named) because he’s a popular character.”

Left out of the last game, Sean McMahon will finally make his return to international rugby this weekend after four years in the wilderness.

Rennie opted to overlook McMahon last week in order to reward Rob Leota with his first start, but the damaging back-rower wasn’t to be snubbed two weeks in a row.

McMahon has been playing rugby in Japan since 2017 and, like Holmes, will make his Wallabies comeback via the pine.

Rennie lured McMahon back from Japan. Picture: Chris Hyde / Getty Images

Rennie will hope McMahon can have the same impact as Quade Cooper and Samu Kerevi have had since returning to the fray from Japan this Rugby Championship.

“Both Greg and Sean have worked extremely hard on the field and around their detail off the field and they’re both super excited to represent their country again on Saturday evening,” Rennie said.

Elsewhere, Pete Samu will start for the first time this year, joining Rob Valetini and captain Michael Hooper in the back row in place of Leota.

Despite dropping Leota from the 23 altogether, Rennie said he was pleased with the 24-year-old’s performance last week.

“We were actually very happy with Rob last week. He’s a big man who gave us a bit of go-forward,” he said.

“But we wanted to reward Pete and we were keen to get Sean in the mix, so unfortunately Rob misses out.

“Pete’s been outstanding for us coming on as a replacement in the past few Tests and has earned his opportunity to show what he’s capable of from the kick off this weekend.”

Samu came off the bench for the Wallabies in last week’s 27-8 win over Argentina. Picture: Matt Roberts / Getty Images

Reece Hodge has retained his spot as starting fullback after an impressive showing in the first clash with the Pumas. Hodge, who was called up in place of the injured Tom Banks, scored one of Australia’s three tries in last week’s victory.

Marika Koroibete has been granted permission to return home and spend time with his newborn son and will be replaced by Andrew Kellaway on the left wing, bringing Jordan Petaia onto the right.

Elsewhere, Darcy Swain comes into the starting side, forcing Matt Philip to the bench.

“We’ve felt really well supported during all of our Tests in Australia this year and we’re looking to finishing the Rugby Championship with a performance the team and the country can be proud of,” Rennie said.

On Thursday, Rugby Australia confirmed Saturday’s Test would proceed at 75 per cent crowd capacity, in accordance with the Queensland Government’s new health directives.

The first 75 per cent of those to purchase tickets will be permitted to attend Saturday night’s Test, with other ticketholders to be contacted regarding refunds by Friday afternoon.

“It is going to be disappointing for people but we have to take the health advice. The health advice is to move to stage two. Stage two says 75 per cent capacity, that’s what it will be,” Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Thursday.

Wallabies team to play Argentina at Cbus Super Stadium, Gold Coast on Saturday 2 October, 5:05pm AEST

1. James Slipper (109 Tests)

2. Folau Fainga’a (20 Tests)

3. Taniela Tupou (34 Tests)

4. Izack Rodda (29 Tests)

5. Darcy Swain (8 Tests)

6. Pete Samu (14 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (c) (114 Tests)

8. Rob Valetini (13 Tests)

9. Nic White (42 Tests)

10. Quade Cooper (73 Tests)

11. Andrew Kellaway (8 Tests)

12. Samu Kerevi (37 Tests)

13. Len Ikitau (8 Tests)

14. Jordan Petaia (13 Tests)

15. Reece Hodge (52 Tests)

Replacements

16. Lachlan Lonergan (3 Tests)

17. Angus Bell (11 Tests)

18. Greg Holmes (27 Tests)

19. Matt Philip (18 Tests)

20. Sean McMahon (26 Tests)

21. Jake Gordon (9 Tests)

22. James O’Connor (56 Tests)

23. Tom Wright (5 Tests)