A year ago Harry Wilson wasn’t even on the Wallabies’ radar but the bullocking No.8 will now captain Australia in their Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Buenos Aires.
Wilson was overlooked by World Cup coach Eddie Jones and had also fallen out of favour with previous mentor Dave Rennie, but current Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said the 24-year-old was a popular choice to become his fourth skipper of the year.
Schmidt made five changes to the starting line-up for their match at Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi in La Plata on Saturday (0800 AEST Sunday), including inside centre Hamish Stewart, the 15th debutant of the year.
Jake Gordon has regained the No.9 jersey after recovering from a head knock, with Tate McDermott again coming off the bench, linking with Noah Lolesio in the halves.
Prop Taniela Tupou will also start after missing the matches against the Springboks following the death of his father, while Nick Frost has also returned after a concussion to partner Lukhan Salakaia-Loto in the second row.
Wilson took over the captaincy duties following injury to Allan Alaalatoa during their Perth loss to South Africa, with the latter named on the bench.
Schmidt said he liked that Wilson, from Gunnedah in country NSW and plays for Queensland, led with his actions.
“Harry’s been really good for us and I think he’s led himself really well,” Schmidt said on Friday morning from Argentina.
“He has a natural propensity to express himself well, but with very few words, and 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.
“We’re pretty happy with the selection amongst the coaching group and even talking to some of the players about who would be best to step up, there was a lot of confidence around Harry.”
Young teammate Isaac Kailea said Wilson, the 90th Test captain, wore the green and old with passion.
“He plays with such passion and it’s pretty infectious as a younger player,” said the 24-year-old loosehead.
“You see a guy with so much want to play as well as he can, you just want to play for him as well.”
Stewart, 26, replaces Hunter Paisami, who suffered a knee injury against the Springboks, with Schmidt describing the Western Force midfielder as a “massive team man”.
The Wallabies, who split their results on their last visit to Argentina in 2022 and lost to the Pumas in Sydney last year, are desperate for a win after two heavy defeats on home turf against South Africa.
Argentina shocked fellow World Cup semi-finalists New Zealand in their opening Rugby Championship match before falling in their second in Auckland.
Schmidt said they presented a formidable challenge, especially with the game set to be a hometown farewell for the Pumas’ most capped international Agustin Creevy.
With 109 caps, the 39-year-old hooker is the only Argentine to play at four World Cups and also captained the team a record 51 times.
“Expectations are going to be high and the pressure is going to be just as high, particularly in terms of Agustin Creevy’s potentially last game, Schmidt said.
“I’ve coached against him for probably nine or 10 years and he is just such a difficult, combative opponent who fights for everything, so we have a lot of respect.
“Having brought a few different teams here to Argentina, they’re very much emotionally connected as a group and to the support that they can get in the arena.”
Wallabies: Angus Bell, Matt Faessler, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Valetini, Carlo Tizzano, Harry Wilson (c), Jake Gordon, Noah Lolesio, Marika Koroibete, Hamish Stewart, Len Ikitau, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Wright. Res: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen.
