Wallabies coach Dave Rennie shuffles backline for Pumas Test

Coach Dave Rennie has named a formidable side for Australia’s final international of the year, against Argentina.

Wayne Smith

James O’Connor is back in the Wallabies side. Picture: Getty Images

2 min read

12:00PMDecember 03, 2020.

Updated 12:27PMDecember 03, 2020

Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has reinstated James O’Connor at five-eighth and relocated Reece Hodge to fullback for his first start there in Test football as part of a formidable side for Australia’s final international of the year, against Argentina at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium on Saturday.

It will be the sixth backline position Hodge has filled in a starting side in Test rugby, making him certainly the most versatile footballer in Wallabies history and quite possibly the most flexible player ever to play the game at international level.

The only position he has not started in is halfback – and who is to say that he will not become the world’s tallest Test number nine before the end of his career?

Reece Hodge will play fullback against Argentina. Picture: AFP

Certainly he deserved to be in the starting side and with the three-quarter line starting to become manned by regular players, fullback was the only spot left.

Brumbies fullback Tom Banks, who has filled the 15 jersey in four of the five Tests this season, has been dropped to the bench.

O’Connor did an accomplished job steering the young Australian side around the paddock in Bledisloe I and II against the All Blacks but has missed the remaining Tests, first with a knee injury, then with a foot problem.

But he is now fully recovered and set to strike up a combination with Hunter Paisami, who filled the inside centre position only for the second half at Eden Park.

“It’s great to have James back in the team this weekend,” said Rennie. “He brings a lot of experience to a young group and has been working really hard to get his body right to be able to get back on the field.

“Reece has done a great job for us at number 10 over the past two games and we’re confident he’ll put in another good performance for us on Saturday night from fullback.

“The side has worked really hard over the last 10 weeks or so and built a strong connection and I know as a full squad we are really keen to put together a performance that reflects that.”

Rennie has tweaked his front row, bringing in Allan Alaalatoa for Taniela Tupou at tighthead while on the bench he recalled Lukhan Salakai-Loto as cover for lock and the back-row, while Irae Simone, who made his debut in the Sydney Test against the All Blacks provides cover in the centres.

Wallabies team to play Argentina at Bankwest Stadium, Sydney on Saturday, 7:45pm AEDT

1. Scott Sio (67 Tests)

2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (8 Tests)

3. Allan Alaalatoa (40 Tests)

4. Rob Simmons (105 Tests)

5. Matt Philip (8 Tests)

6. Ned Hanigan (24 Tests)

7. Michael Hooper (c) (104 Tests)

8. Harry Wilson (5 Tests)

9. Nic White (36 Tests)

10. James O’Connor (54 Tests)

11. Marika Koroibete (33 Tests)