Schmidt forced into backline changes for Argentina Test
- 792
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt believes Australia's second test against Argentina will be the perfect opportunity for players to step up as they look to continue their winning momentum.
Schmidt has been forced into several changes after their narrow one-point lead over Los Pumas in Buenos Aires.
Noah Lolesio (back), Tom Wright (ankle) and Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (shoulder) were all ruled out after feeling the effects of the physical performance that came down to the final kick.
"Lukhan got a stinger so (he's) had a limited range of movement in his shoulder. He's coming right and did a lot of the training today, just not contact," Schmidt told reporters.
"Tom Wright trained outside the team today but was moving pretty well. He did it inside the first ten minutes of the Test so he really battled through, didn't pick up too many high-speed metres but fought his way through.
"Noah just before he was replaced he got caught awkwardly and he's just uncomfortable really through his shoulder blades and it's still stiff through there. He ran okay today but he's not doing contact at the moment and if you're playing Argentina and you don't do contact, you'll come second."
It opens the door for Ben Donaldson to return to the starting side after a mixed performance in his last start against Georgia, with Tom Lynagh added to the bench after overcoming an ongoing hamstring concern.
"It's a great opportunity for Ben. He was the incumbent really from the World Cup," Schmidt said.
"(Tom Lynagh) was struggling to get rid of a hamstring injury and he's now 100% so they're excited to take on the mantel.
"Whilst Noah is disappointed if you'd seen him at and before training, they're discussing the strategy around the game and he's brought into being a squad member and trying to help the others prepare."
Donaldson is joined in the starting side by former Waratahs teammate Max Jorgensen, who continues his incredible 2024 season with a debut start.
Jorgensen has spent the past two games on the bench but has found himself in big moments.
His chip and chase late in the Springboks game proved he could handle the Test arena whilst the outside back was unable to reel in a Noah Lolesio pass in the final moments of the one-point win.
"Max has built his way in (Test footy)," Schmidt notes. "He's had a couple of runs off the bench which is ideal for him to gain a bit of confidence and for us to know a bit more about him.
"I think we he picked that ball up in space from the cross-field kick from Tom Wright and accelerated, it's not often (Makazole) Mapimpi is left grasping and that's the acceleration and footwork he's got. He didn't quite hold onto a ball that was promising from Noah but got some great pressure on the kicker, which allowed us to have a lineout on or around the 22 to launch our last attack.
"Max has worked really well off the ball which was part of what we wanted him to work on because once he's on the ball, he's an exciting young player.
Schmidt has also handed Josh Canham a potential debut off the bench, with the coach impressed with how the Reds lock honed his craft after missing the July series.
"Josh is a good athlete and I think he's a really promising young player," Schmidt added.
"He's gone away and put some work in and some of that is just the physical grind of making sure he's prepared for Test match Rugby...he's built a bit of confidence through the work he's done and we've built in what Josh can deliver."
