Brumbies winger Corey Toole will earn his second cap after impressing in the defeat against South Africa in Cape Town, scoring a try and also leading the Wallabies with three turnovers.
Taniela Tupou continues at tighthead prop after two impressive performances in South Africa against world-class loosehead Ox Nche in the scrum, and will be joined in the front row by loosehead prop Tom Robertson and hooker Billy Pollard.
Tom Lynagh leaves the field during the third Test of the series between Australia and the British and Irish Lions.Credit: Getty Images
Filipo Daugunu is preferred to Harry Potter as backline cover on the bench, alongside halfback Tate McDermott.
Schmidt highlighted the challenge the Wallabies face against a confident Argentina team in Townsville.
“The players have reassembled after a few days break, following our two games in South Africa, and worked their way through a very warm week here in Townsville,” Schmidt said.
“Los Pumas are a combative and skilled side, and they will be confident after their recent performances. We know we’re going to need to be at our very best on Saturday afternoon.”
The two Tests against the Pumas are vital to the Wallabies’ quest to secure a top-six seeding for the World Cup draw in December.
Argentina currently sit seventh, just 1.45 ranking points behind sixth-placed Australia, and a victory for the Pumas in Townsville would see them leapfrog the Wallabies.
Argentina have made three changes to the side that beat New Zealand in Buenos Aires, with prop Joel Sclavi replacing tighthead Pedro Delgado, Marcos Kremer in for Juan Martin Gonzalez and Santiago Carreras replacing the injured five-eighth Tomas Albornoz.
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Coach Felipe Contepomi said the emotional high of beating New Zealand for the first time in Argentina would not distract his team against the Wallabies.
“Sport is a very interesting thing. The way I see it, I hate losing more than I love winning,” Contempomi said. “So for me, it’s like [the celebration] lasts however long it lasts in that dressing room and then I get out and I’m already starting to think about the next job.
“So for us, it’s like starting from zero the following day. Since Sunday, after beating the All Blacks we’ve started from zero, we are preparing for Australia and we are trying to focus on being our best version.”
More to come
