“’La’ (Foketi) has his best season ever from a Super point of view,” Rennie said.
“He is a good athlete, good feet and has an ability to beat people through that, or transfer and fend. He is as sharp and as quick as I have seen him, and he is committed and making good shifts.”
Dave Rennie was full of praise for Lalakai Foketi’s exploits in Super Rugby.Credit:Getty
Elsewhere, Rory Arnold has overcome a niggling calf injury and will start alongside Darcy Swain in the second row. Taniela Tupou will start at tighthead prop, with Allan Ala’alatoa having flown home for personal reasons.
For the second week in a row, a Rebels prop will make his debut off the bench, with Pone Fa’amausili to play his first match for the Wallabies.
The 130kg prop, who also stands 196cm tall, has been a powerhouse for Melbourne since making his debut in 2018 but has battled a series on injuries that have restricted his game time.
The former rugby league junior made his first Wallabies squad at the end of 2020 but will finally get a taste of action.
Wallabies team to play Argentina, San Juan, Sunday 5am (AEST)
- James Slipper (c)
- Folau Fainga’a
- Taniela Tupo
- Rory Arnold
- darcy swine
- Jed Holloway
- Fraser McReight
- Rob Valetini
- Nick White
- James O’Connor
- Marika Koroibete
- Lalakai Foketi
- Len Ikitau
- Jordy Petaia
- Tom Wright
Reserves 16. Lachlan Lonergan, 17. Matt Gibbon, 18. Pone Fa’amausili, 19. Nick Frost, 20. Pete Samu., 21. Tate McDermott, 22. Irae Simone, 23. Reece Hodge.
Matt Philip has dropped out of the 23-man squad entirely, with Rennie preferring Nick Frost on the bench.
Going with a more traditional 5-3 bench, Rennie has also given Irae Simone a recall after last selecting the 27-year-old in 2020 for two Tests against the All Blacks.
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Simone was due to join Clermont this month but with Samu Kerevi unavailable, and Izaia Perese injured, the ex-Brumbies center was drafted in as cover for the Wallabies midfield. With Paisami the latest to fall victim to the Wallabies’ injury curse, Simone can potentially add a third cap to his name from him.
Reece Hodge maintains his place on the bench to cover multiple positions, and for the fifth time this year, Rennie has swapped the back-up halfback job again. Tate McDermott has come in for Jake Gordon in the No.21 jersey.
Watch every match of The Rugby Championship on the Home of Rugby, Stan Sport. Continue this weekend with South Africa v All Blacks (Sunday 12.30am AEST) and Argentina v Wallabies (Sunday 4.45am AEST). All matches streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport.