The second match of the 2022 Rugby Championship between Argentina and Australia will take place on Saturday at 21h10 in Mendoza, Argentina.
It will be the first time that former Australia coach Michael Cheika coaches Argentina against his home country and his successor in the Wallabies hot seat, Dave Rennie.
Cheika led Los Pumas to a 2-1 series win against Scotland last month, a victory sealed by a last-minute Emiliano Boffelli try in the deciding test. The Wallabies lost their July series to England despite winning the opening test and have since lost influential centre Samu Kerevi to a knee injury sustained at the Commonwealth Games.
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika made nine changes to the team that clinched the series against Scotland.
There are three changes to the backline that started in the 34-31 win in the third Test against Scotland. Santiago Cordero comes in on the wing for Bautista Delguy, while Jerónimo de la Fuente gets the nod over Matias Moroni at inside centre.
The final change in the backline sees Tomas Cubelli take over the No.9 duties from Lautaro Bazán Vélez.
A new-look pack will be in action on Saturday. Pablo Matera will wear the No.8 jersey this weekend with Marcos Kremer and Juan Martín González Samso on the flanks. In the second row, Tomás Lavanini will have a new partner in the form of Matías Alemanno.
In the front row, Francisco Gómez Kodela comes in for Joel Sclavi with Julian Montoya leading the team from the hooker position. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro comes in to wear the No.1 jersey with Thomas Gallo dropping down to the bench.
Waratahs backrower Jed Holloway will make his Test debut at age 29, named to start at blindside flanker for the Wallabies against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday afternoon (local time).
Melbourne Rebels prop Matt Gibbon is set to make his debut from the bench as the loosehead prop cover.
Playmaker Quade Cooper returns to the team, looking for his first minutes in a gold jersey this year after making a full recovery from a calf strain. He'll wear the number 10 jersey and partner the in-form Nic White in the halves.
After impressive form in the England Series, Tom Wright will wear the number 15 jersey for the first time in a Test, with the electric Jordan Petaia and powerful Marika Koroibete on the wings, completing the back three.
An all-Brumbies front row sees hooker Folau Fainga'a earn his first start of 2022, with Test centurion James Slipper and stalwart Allan Alaalatoa named as the starting props.
Darcy Swain is another who returns to the team after serving his suspension and is set to reignite his second-row combination alongside workhorse Matt Philip.
Yamba product Holloway is joined in the backrow by captain Michael Hooper who will surpass former teammate Adam Ashley-Cooper as the third most-capped Wallaby of all time when he runs out for his 122nd Test match at Estadio Malvinas in Mendoza in the familiar number seven. The ever-improving Rob Valetini will anchor the scrum for the 14th consecutive time at no. 8.
The hard-hitting Hunter Paisami will slot in at inside centre, with Len Ikitau back in the starting line-up as his midfield partner, the pair having last started together for the country against Wales last year.
The mobile Lachlan Lonergan will also play his first Test of the year as the reserve hooker, with fan-favourite Taniela Tupou the prop cover alongside Gibbon.
A 6-2 bench split, sees the dynamic Nick Frost named to cover the second row, with Melbourne-born duo of Rob Leota and Pete Samu the remaining forward cover.
New South Wales captain Jake Gordon will bring energy as the finishing scrumhalf, while Reece Hodge's versatility will again be called on as the other backline replacement.
The Test marks the beginning of the team's eToro Rugby Championship campaign, with home Tests against South Africa and New Zealand from later this month.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie said: “We've had a strong week of preparation over here in Argentina and we are highly motivated to put on a performance that makes our supporters proud back home in Australia."
"It's an extremely special occasion for Jed, Matt and their families and it's up to the rest of us to make sure it's a positive memory on their Test debuts.
"Argentina will be full of confidence after their home series win over Scotland and we know we'll need to be at our best to get a good result on Saturday afternoon."
Teams
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González Samso, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Santiago Grondona, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Matias Moroni.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Jordan Petaia, 13 Len Ikitau, 12 Hunter Paisami, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Nic White, 8 Rob Valetini, 7 Michael Hooper (captain), 6 Jed Holloway, 5 Matt Philip, 4 Darcy Swain, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Folau Fainga’a, 1 James Slipper. Replacements: 16 Lachlan Lonergan, 17 Matt Gibbon, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Nick Frost, 20 Rob Leota, 21 Pete Samu, 22 Jake Gordon, 23 Reece Hodge.
