It was a really important win for Australia in Argentina, their fourth straight in 2026 and the first time they’ve enjoyed a streak this long since beating Portugal in their final match of RWC2023 – the end of the season to forget – and then winning their first three Tests under Joe Schmidt in 2024.
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Schmidt’s Wallabies never won four in a row, but Les Kiss’s side can this Saturday in Mendoza. If they succeed, it would also see their overall streak – taking into account the win over Italy in Schmidt’s last Test – equal Dave Rennie’s run of five straight wins in 2021.
After resting bodies in Townsville a fortnight ago – Allan Ala’alatoa, Josh Canham and Rob Valetini all sat out the big win over Japan, while Tom Hooper, Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii were all at different stages of injury recovery – Kiss rested a few more for the first Pumas clash in South America.
Harry Wilson and Taniela Tupou sat out the 27-21 win in San Salvador, while Lukhan Salakaia-Loto was also omitted following the Townsville win.
There could well be more ‘load management’ this week. Angus Bell, Jeremy Williams, Fraser McReight, Ryan Lonergan, Tom Wright and Tate McDermott are the remaining players to have suited up for all six Wallabies games this season far, albeit with different numbers of bench starts for the individuals.
Realistically, the Japan series and this Argentina tour were going to be the only real opportunities to manage player loads. It has made, and does make, sense to take advantage of fixtures against teams in similar areas on the world rankings to do this. The Test in Mendoza will be the last opportunity, with the next block of matches representing the biggest games of the year.
Once the Wallabies get home, they’ll host South Africa in Perth at the end of this month, before back-to-back Bledisloe Cup Tests in mid-October. Three weeks later, they’ll start the November leg of the Nations Championship, facing England, Scotland and Wales on successive weekends, with a play-off match to follow in the four-game northern block.
The Wallabies will have 15 Tests after Mendoza before hosting the Rugby World Cup next year. Hence the thinking that the time to start seeing the preferred team is rapidly approaching.
It means Les Kiss and his coaching team are nearly at the end of their only opportunity to ‘take a look at a few guys’. Which is handy, because plenty of Australia fans on these pages and beyond are starting to wonder if the supposed first-choice 23-man match-day squad might start appearing soon.
With the seven aforementioned fixtures in 2026, the ANZAC Day Bledisloe Test, a full Rugby Championship plus a warm-up Test against Ireland next year, the Wallabies will have 15 Tests after Mendoza before hosting the Rugby World Cup next year. Hence the thinking that the time to start seeing the preferred team is rapidly approaching.
So the question is valid now. Who is in the first-choice team? And how far does the depth chart run in each position, little more than 12 months out from a home RWC?
Certainly, some positions run deeper than others.
Front-row stocks look good, with at least three options for each jersey. Isaac Kailea’s return in Argentina was timely for the loosehead stocks and there are still guys like Tom Robertson and Blake Schoupp on the injured list. And that’s before we consider where – or if – James Slipper fits into the equation.
Hooker looks similarly healthy, with Matt Faessler currently outside the squad, while at tighthead, the arrival of Massimo de Lutiis is equally well-timed. The most important piece of that puzzle will be the ongoing fitness of Taniela Tupou over the next 12 months.
At lock, Josh Canham has rocketed up the pecking order in just five starts this year, having played only two Tests beforehand. His combination with both Williams and Salakaia-Loto has helped nearly everyone forget that Nick Frost is yet to feature in 2026.
Did Kiss just give a glimpse of the best Wallabies back-row going forward, running Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini together in San Salvador? Plenty of people have been calling for it for some time and on the evidence of one showing, it already seems a difficult point to argue. There might only be one hurdle preventing that trio’s confirmation.
The responsibility is massive, but I don’t want it to be a weight…I want it to be something that inspires whoever is the captain.
“I named a captain, that’s Harry [Wilson], and obviously when I don’t pick him there’s another captain that steps up,” Kiss said last week when naming the team for the first Pumas Test without Wilson in it.
“But you know, Harry’s the man who is in, the man that I will back. The characteristics that he’s shown in that jersey; he shows his emotion, his footy smarts, he’s a great footy player who has the respect of the players, works his bollocks off every time he’s on the pitch.”
If that looks like a rolled-gold endorsement from the coach, Kiss did keep going with this answer.
“The responsibility of [the captaincy] is massive, but I don’t want it to be a weight,” Kiss said, in a way that feels contradictory to Wilson being “the man that I will back”.
“I want it to be something that inspires whoever is the captain, and someone who’s been through the mill and doing the job is probably the first person I’ll look to, as we get into ’27,” the coach said.
So, in summary, Kiss will back Wilson to be the Wallabies captain. Unless he doesn’t pick him. Are we all clear now?
Whatever that all means, back-row has long been and remains a position of strength for Australia, particularly when guys like Carlo Tizzano and Charlie Cale really don’t appear to have an avenue to a starting berth. Nick Champion de Crespigny and Joe Brial both spent time in the Wallabies squad during the Nations Championship, too. It’s a nice problem to have.
The half-backs look both rock solid and particularly vulnerable. Despite not playing a minute together until July, Ryan Lonergan and Carter Gordon look like they’ve played 50 Tests together, and with comfortably another 50 Tests together still to come. Just nail them down now, right?
Well, yes, except that if one or both of them are hit by a bus, all the concerns come flooding back instantly.
Both seemingly have dependable understudies – Tate McDermott and Ben Donaldson – but the issue is the evident and possibly growing gap between them.
McDermott’s only real crime has been suffering a nasty hamstring injury on last year’s November tour. But his form and impact this year has seen lots of questions raised.
Donaldson had an excellent year for the Western Force but just hasn’t been able to replicate that coming off the Wallabies bench yet. And McDermott’s standing in the Australian scrum-half pecking order is now more than a bit curious.
He’s gone from being the preferred starting scrum-half through the 2023 RWC, to invaluable impact player off the bench in 2024 and especially against the British & Irish Lions last year, to now being viewed as bringing a fundamental disadvantage every time he comes on for Lonergan.
McDermott’s only real crime has been suffering a nasty hamstring injury on last year’s November tour. But his form and impact this year has seen lots of questions raised. I don’t think he’s in any danger of losing his place to Kalani Thomas at all, but it could be a different story when Teddy Wilson gets his inevitable chance and Henry Robertson is fit again. And that’s before Jake Gordon comes back into the equation.
Len Ikitau being back boosts the midfield scenario, so too the return to form of Hunter Paisami and emergence of Isaac Henry. If all can stay fit for the rest of this year and next, it will be intriguing to watch which way the cards fall over the next 12 months.
And is there still room in that midfield thinking for Suaalii? He replaced Henry in San Salvador but was named on the bench to cover back-three positions as well. It does feel like there is something of a re-tooling in progress with him. Indeed, Kiss spoke of him last week in similarly contradictory tones, still seeing him at 13, but clearly possessing the kind of utility value that would nicely slot into full-back or on the wing.
Which is a hot field in itself, with Tom Wright and Max Jorgensen seemingly locked in, Harry Potter doing most things well currently, and the likes of Dylan Pietsch, Filipo Daugunu and Jock Campbell waiting in the wings. And Mark Nawaqanitawase.
That doesn’t even include another couple of league converts, either. I’ll be honest, I think the bigger question for Zac Lomax this year and Angus Creighton next year is ‘if’ rather than ‘where’ they’ll fit in. Neither has a particularly strong case for inclusion right now.
Clearly, Kiss has some welcome but bloody difficult decisions coming his way in the coming months, and how he tackles them all will be intriguing.
The time for experimentation is clearly coming to an end, so you would think that preferred options will start appearing soon enough.
Well, at least Wallabies fans certainly hope so.
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Skelton got a lot of love on NB's recent “Hooper” article. I hope Kiss makes space for him at the Nations Cup. For me, if he is fit, reliably available, then he is in.
Ramm's back for WC. Had a good year at Northampton, but hard to see him getting through.
With Tom Wright struggling for form, how come noone is mentioning Tom Banks? Is he playing well os? He was one of our 1st picked for so long. He is only 32. I understand there si Jock Campbell and some league players but if we want experience…
Picking from who should/could be available come next WC
Slips Pollard Allan
Canham Skelton
Frazer Wilson Hooper
Lonergan Gordon
Len JAS
Jorgo Wright Marky-Mark
BPA, Bell, Toupo, Williams, BobbyV, Tate, JOC/IceMan, Daugunu
For me Bell, BPA, Toupo are probably our best front row and bringing these three at the same time with 30-35 mins to go would be amazing
Skelton has to start, get him to burn hard and pull him off as soon as he gets tired, even if that 30 mins in. Picking Canham to start as his form demands it
Back three is hard, I really liked the balance in San Salvador, but Wilson is captain and I think BobbyV would be an outstanding impact player off the bench
Halves… This is what we have and fingers cross they build over the next 12 months. Both good without being world class
Henry has been great, but the upside with Len and JAS is so high, really hoping Kiss and Cheika get the most out of JAS. If not then Henry is not going to let us down
Jorgo and Wright seems to be locked in here but neither are playing at their peak. I think Wright needs game time and Jorgo needs a rest. But getting the both come right in time.
We are currently blessed with outside backs but Mark Nawaqanitawase is a world class dual international.
Tate struggled in San Salvador, but he was trying to play at pace and the team exhausted from the altitude.
James O’Conner and Foley can still add a lot of knowledge and game management in the closing stages of the game. Been a while since we have seen Foley play, but penciling in here to see what he can bring to the Tahs. I like Noah and I don’t understand why he isn’t even in the squad, so I assume he must be out of form. Sadly Donaldson has not shown his Super form at international level. So when it comes down to it, who do I am standing in front of the ball with no time on the clock with a kick to win the match… Foley.
Daugunu, takes the last bench spot as I don’t see a huge gap between him and any of the other remaining wingers and he adds more versatility
We’ve got real depth everywhere, but the gap between the starting halves and the rest is disturbing. Any word on Lynagh’s possible return date? Donno needs an enormous shove from below to get him to lift his game. And Tate’s form is a real worry as I don’t see Thomas as any sort of test-quality 9. Although when you mention Wilson, Gordon and Robertson, perhaps it’s not quite as bad as it looks right now.
I was in the “don’t pick Harry” camp two years back but had come to appreciate his quality more. If the alternative is the backrow we ran out last week though, it’s hard to see how he’s picked on merit; and he’s not a bench option - whereas Cale and Tizzano both look perfect bench candidates.
Frost is going to need to find his 2025 form fast next season - Skelton, LSL, Williams and Canham looks a handy flock.
I was so pleased for Kailea after a season of bizarre treatment by McKellar at the Tahs. He looks every inch a test player and just needs to play more rugby.
Didn't see a mention of Amatosero here Brett, and I think that's how it should be. Look at developing him after RWC 2027 if he is still showing promise. Lukan is clearly the best grunt option for now.
It wasn’t a conscious omission PM, but I do think Shaw and Amatosero are essentially in the same contest. I’m not sure there’s room for both of them yet.
Skelton will be back at some pont, you’d think, and I still think we’ll see Frost this year..
With Hooper cameoing at 5 perhaps too. And maybe Skelton will even be back.
Lots of great comments in today, thanks everyone who’s taken the time to have their say.
I’ll circle back through tonight when I have a little more time to respond..
I thought Suaalii was a little more direct in his running. Maybe Kiss had given him some clearer explanation of his role. I thought, in previous games, that he had been trying too hard. Putting pressure on himself to create chances. What Henry has shown is that, maybe at 13, you need to be capitalising on chances that others create. I think Suaalii is exceptionally talented and will be great once he finds his position and gets experience in it. And that could still be at 13.
I’d agree with this Ally - which is why I wonder above if he might be better bench impact value, than force to the wing?
It seems you have a bit higher opinion of JAS than your Kiwi mate on GAGR!I agree with you,though,he is a special talent and sooner or later he will make his critics eat their words.I just hope it’s sooner!
What a great topic to pick, Brett. And at a time when there is genuine depth in many positions, some of that, judging by the comments I read below, well below most radars.
For this week, I will be deeply disappointed if JAS starts, and especially so if at 13. TBH, he does not make my 23. His bursts of very good play are just so sporadic, and he is still showing poor decision making too often for my liking. If Kiss does want to see how he goes in the back three, fine, but it would be as a winger imo.
I think Kiss should now be concentrating on a centre group of first Ikatau at either 12 or 13, and then Henry and Paisami, with imo Flook also in the frame.
The form of Tom Hooper was no surprise, I would hazard, to those who have watched him play at Exeter last season. Standing at 1.99 m and weighing in at 122 kgs he is formidable player, either as a lock or 6. He stacks up well against other like players…Bok PS du Toit at 2.00 m, 115 kgs, Simon Parker at 1.97 m. 117 kgs.
Just on the back rows available, I like de Crispigny and Northhamton’s Kemeny. I woulf hope Les Kiss is watching him closely. The backrow that takes the field in the crucial RWC games could be a combination from any of around eight good players.
On the hookers, I was interested in your last Q7A, Brett, that Geoff mentioned Uelese. He would be on my list after seeing his last two games this season in France. Will depend how he goes in Top 14 this year…Montpellier could well be right up with UBB and Toulouse this year.
You mention Teddy Wilson. I am surprised Les Kiss does not have in his squad…he would be in mine.
So am I Mizz, about Wilson. I think he should’ve been there since November.
Kemeny is a good mention, but I think he’s in the same boat as Sean McMahon, who used to get a regular mention despite hardly playing a game for more than three years - and that is that yes, he’s a good player, but is he playing so much better than local options?
I think the guys OS - in any position, actually - have to have seasons like Hooper did. Not just useful enough for a highlight reel every now and again, but actually so good that the local coverage is regularly pushing their cause as well…
Brett your keyboard must be a tax deduction! Maybe you are a speech to text kinda guy?
Otherwise yes we are slowly getting a grip on our match day 23.
I certainly hope so, TLN.. 🤨
flyhalf and loosehead biggest areas of concern imo with only 1 established player each in Bell and carter. Kailea/schoup untested for LH and donno hasn’t performed/been given the opportunities and noah seems to be the forgotten man, kiss should give him a call with cap in hand imo. Then beyond that, tighthead and halfback only have 2 established players and need a third each. Neither of kalani or massimo have shown they’re up to it. At hooker, there are alot of players of similar quality so we have depth in that sense, but none I would say are world class except for maybe BPA.
If we are thinking if RWC squads I’d assume Skelton and Frost are in. If not, the locks selection is simpler. McDermott and Donaldson really need to get into form if we are to avoid a real risk in the halves. They’re simply not playing to the standard. Centres and wing seem well covered and it’s largely a matter of combinations - whether ikitau+Henry become the first choice and JAS goes to wing. We won’t know the props lineup until the end of the year, but both the youngsters seem capable of forcing their way in. We have two hookers who are reliable with lineout throws (and general play). The backriw will be hard to pick. In summary, I remain worried about the depth at halves and not much else since Paisami and Henry came back fit.
Teddy Wilson. I don't think. Watching his efforts in the Shute Shield semi final last weekend I noticed he has the dreaded habit of one step,two step, pass.
Worst case I can recall.
Pity as previously he had shown a lot of promise.
His fundamentals are pretty strong NF - his pass speed and accuracy, and his ability to get to next ruck as quickly as he does is up there with the best, IMO..
Winning streaks are decided by the quality of the opponents not coaches .
We have a strong pack thanks to Joe Schmidt and Cron .
Lonergan is solid not brilliant . McDermott is neither .Lolisio has been our best 10 . Gordon tries to do too much . Donaldson is not test class . Paisami and Ikatau are world class . Suaalii is not .
Our wingers are nothing special. Tom Wright is world class .
I like Lolesio. But he’s had no time with this group and unless he goes in soon he can’t really be in the mix for the RWC.
It will certainly be interesting going forward and there is certainly some good depth being developed. I think the loose forward trio against Argentina was the best we’ve seen for a couple of years and bringing Harry W back will weaken it. I get the loyalty Kiss displays, but he needs to be a bit more ruthless about performances on the field rather than incumbency.
For me JAS doesn’t make my 23. He is not better than any of the players from 11 out and offers too many disadvantages caused by his lack of experience and rugby IQ. Every position you might play him in has at least 2 who are better.
KwAuss, I found Kiss’s comments about Wilson quite intriguing.
It was like he wanted to go out of his way to back him publicly, but I think he undid a lot of it by adding the “but I don’t want it to be a weight” bit. It was a curious qualifier..
Of the boys in the squad atm this is the team I would roll out in a must win
Bell BPA Alan
Canham Lukhan
Hooper Bobby V Fraser (c)
Lonergan Gordon
Len Henry
Jorgo Wright JAS
Pollard Kailea Tupou Williams Harry Cale Tate Potter
Dice roll I have Wright covering 10 but could be a revelation if I am a WBs fan I’m hoping he gets time at Brums this super
I am also banking on Fraser playing 80 but he does that plenty
Can’t fault the thinking here, Bazz.
I do wonder if JAS might be more value off the bench, than starting on the wing, but it’s a minor quibble on what you’ve listed..
I’d have Tizzano instead of Harry. You start Harry or don’t pick him. Not likely to impact apart from perhaps an improbable handoff.
Like that team and the 6-2 approach. Good depth and versatility emerging
Reckon you need a 10/15 cover if going the 6-2 split. Donaldson best placed instead of Potter, Wright shifts to wing. Not sure how Meredith goes at 15?
Cale or Wilson as 6/8 cover then have Tizzano at 21 to replace Fraser at the back end or have them both on
Kiss has done a great job at testing the depth so far…..brave really for someone starting out in the job and testing the strength. Whilst we are developing depth, I think we are still deficient in key areas. Backup loose head to Bell is definitely not sorted, with neither Ross nor Kailea really grabbing the chance. Slipper and Robertson remain the most likely. Donaldson has been given a good run, but just somehow still feels like he can’t be trusted to start and run a full game. I’d bring Lolosio back into the fold, he young, been there before and guided the team to big wins. The backrow definitely looked better in attack in this most recent test, but I wonder if the soft tries we gave up around the ruck were due to the lack of extra work Wilson puts in, in this area. He regularly tops the test tackle counts and his work rate can’t be questioned…..Having said that, I’d stick with last week. Best 23 - Bell, Paenga-Amosa, Alaalatoa, Canham, Skelton, Hooper, McReight, Valetini, Lonergan, Gordon, Nawaqanitawase, Henry, Ikitau, Jorgensen, Wright…..Pollard, Slipper, Tupou, Williams, Cale, McDermott, Lolosio, Suallii. Remaining 10 for WC squad, Robertson, Nasser, Delutiis, Salakai-Loto, Tizzano, Wilson, J.Gordon, Donaldson, Peitsch, T. Pritchard
Good post here, PP. Think this would be a pretty widely held view..
PP - good comments here. I agree Kiss has tested the depth charts, and it’s actually given me more confidence in the both the squad and coaching set-up. The big holes for me are at Hooker (BPA doing great, Pollard not where he was last year, Nasser not at international standard - compare our 3 first choice hookers with the AB’s, and you can see the gap from where we are and where we want to be). Loose head also a big issue as you point out. And the halves are problematic. Lonergan has been a real find, and adds a lot to the team, both in consistency and kicking. He looks really good when paired with Gordon, who is also finally a decent 10 option for the Wobs. But we have no depth at all here - McDermott looks off, and doesn’t seem to bring the impact off the bench that he did pre injury. He’s not a starter either, too poor at the pass and kick. And Donno just doesn’t have the clutch plays in him. He was awesome the past 2 years in SRP, but cannot translate that to international level. Let’s hope everyone stays fit!
Kailea is the one. For goodness sake not Slipper or Robertson. Meredith will be much better than Lolesio.
Think the team this week will be: Bell, Nasser, Tupou, Canham, LSL, Valentini, McReight, Wilson, Lonergan, Gordon, Potter, Ikitau, Sualli, Jorgensen and Wright.
However I wouldn’t be suprised if Lonergan gets a rest and a totally different back three. Kiss rotated his front 5 at the Reds also and I don’t think he will be happy with the back three. Contestable kicks and lack of scoring tries for the back three might see others get a go. Wright is out of form and Jorgensen hardly wins a kick if he has to come forward.
I’d be very tempted to chuck JAS into 15 and see how he goes. Now’s the time to do it - it’ll be too risky against the ABs/Saffas, and the next real opportunity won’t be until Wales.
Hi Bret I think a fit Henry at 12 with len at 13 is the way. Hunter ok enough to cover 12 and 13. Jas back 3 and maybe thanks to warratahs for running him at 15. Marky has to get a wing. He’s been killing the pig. Jorgo the other with Tom at the back. Great injury cover though. Filipo D a decent 13 too. A big centre would be nice but I have no idea where Kerevi is at.
With the locks I think it will have to come down to the twowbest lineout callers. And Tom will spend time in the row in the second half. Valetini has to play. Fraser has to play. Then looks like Tom but luvya Harry with big respect. Big respect to Carlo too. He is proven test class but cale messing up lineouts jumping at 2 is just gold. You stop the drive b4 the catch.
Wallabies on a good day beat anyone and now enough guys could be consistent enough to perform at the next RWC
Yeah, that’s not a bad shout Mitch, and it would be quickly interchangeable, with Ikitau running inside and Henry outside for certain patterns.
Intrigued to see where both of them play SRP next season..
“Marky has to get a wing.” Not that strong on “has to” Mitch, but from his RL form and previous experience, would expect him to force his way into the RWC squad.
Kerevi is a great 12. He is a terrible 13. Danganu is a winger, period.
Hmmm yes on a good day the Wallabies can beat the top 5 if they are off their game. But odds are they will still lose more than they win against the top 5?