Leukemia survivor Leali’ifano returns
Christian Leali’ifano is set to return to play his first test in more than three years after recovering from leukemia in one of five changes to Australia’s starting lineup for tomorrow’s Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina in Brisbane.
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has also made five changes to his reserves in the wake of last weekend’s 35-17 loss to South Africa in Johannesburg, drafting in utility back James O’Connor for the first time in almost six years.
Scott Sio’s return in the front row is the only change to the starting forward pack. The 55-test veteran missed the South Africa match because of an injured hamstring.
Halfback Will Genia, Leali’ifano, winger Marika Koroibete and Kurtley Beale will all start in a new-look backline as Cheika continues to experiment with his combinations before the Rugby World Cup in Japan later this year.
Genia is set to play his last international game in his hometown following his decision to retire from test rugby at the end of 2019. The Wallabies have won 10 of 12 matches in Brisbane with Genia in the lineup.
O’Connor has been included among the reserves within weeks of re-signing for the Reds. He missed selection for the Johannesburg test despite training with the squad in South Africa.
Australia has lost just one of their last eight games against Argentina, although that defeat came at home last year on the Gold Coast.
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has made five changes from the side that ran the All Blacks close in their Rugby Championship opener last weekend.
Stalwart hooker Agustin Creevy did not make the trip to Australia because of a shoulder injury and will be replaced in the front row by Julian Montoya with uncapped rake Santiago Socini set to make his debut from the bench.
At No 8, Facundo Isa will get his first taste of test rugby since he moved back to France in 2016 after replacing Javier Ortega Desio at the back of the scrum. Ledesma is using the Rugby Championship to try to work some of Argentina’s Europe-based talent back into the squad heavily reliant on the Jaguares team.
The other changes continued the policy of rotation that the Jaguares employed so successfully on their run to this year’s Super Rugby final. Tomas Lezana replaced Marcos Kremer at openside flanker, Santiago Cordero will start on the wing in place of Matias Moroni who moves into the midfield. There is more experience at halfback where five-eighths Nicolas Sanchez and halfback Tomas Cubelli resume the combination that helped Argentina give the All Blacks a scare in a 20-16 loss to the world champions in Buenos Aires.
Will Genia, Christian Leali’ifano, Marika Koroibete and Kurtley Beale will all start in a new-look backline.