Wallabies make six changes

WaLLaBy coach Dave rennie has made six changes from the side that lost to argentina for their team’s castle Lager rugby championship showdown with the springboks in adelade.

rennie has brought back a host of players who were missing from the Wallaby squad for the argentina leg of the series and while most may see the host of changes as an act of desperation, it strengthens the squad from the team that lost so badly in argentina a fortnight ago.

young fly-half noah Lolesio and the big boot of reece hodge return to try and counter the expected Bok aerial battle. This was one of the key areas the Wallabies lost the fight against the Pumas after being dominated in the air.

Lolesio has been backed after the Wallabies lost Quader cooper — who kicked a last minute penalty last year to beat the Boks — to an achilles injury while his replacement James O’connor was dropped and took much of the blame for the argentinean loss on his shoulders.

now the young fly-half will play his 13th test, after being in and out of the side and will have an opportunity to stake a claim for the 10 jersey.

hodge, who has been an important part of the Wallabies over the years, was on the bench in argentina.

and the Wallabies are expecting the aerial bombardment to be a massive part of the test.

“It's great to have a number of experienced players back in the mix this weekend. We understand that respect is earned daily and we get an opportunity to earn it against the current World champions on saturday afternoon.

"It's really motivating to be back at home in front of our supporters, especially in adelaide, a place we haven't played at in 18 years. yes we are (expecting a bomb raid), and we’ve put a lot of time into it because it wasn’t good enough last time out,” rennie said.

“so we know the importance of that, they’ve got a good kicking game and they’ll back their defence — we’ve got to make sure that we can win that air battle.”

In other changes hunter Paisami comes into the midfield after returning from concussion, while both Folau Fainga’a and allan alaalatoa return to the starting line-up in the front row.

Matt Philip comes in at lock while the rest of the pack remains the same from the one that faced argentina.

Ironically while the Boks have gone away from their six-two split on the bench and “bombsquad” mentality, the Wallabies have selected a six-two bench, with an extra forward to try and stop the Boks up front.

hooker Dave Porecki and prop scott sio both return to the bench alongside taniela tupou while Darcy swain, who played against argentina, drops to the bench.

andrew Kellaway, who has seen some good action in the past against the springboks, is one of the two backline replacements.

“We thought about starting Kells,” rennie said at the team announcement. — supersport.