New captain and changes in scrum as Wallabies name side to face Argentina

The Wallabies have named an all-new starting front row for the first Test against Argentina, with stalwart Allan Alaalatoa taking over the captaincy.

Australia has two Tests against Los Pumas in Argentina, with the first match being played on Sunday morning AEST.

Wallabies coach Les Kiss has kept the same starting backline that soundly defeated Japan in Townsville earlier this month, while Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is returning from injury and will come off the bench.

Up front, Isaac Kailea has his first start in two years at loosehead prop, while Brandon Paenga-Amosa starts at hooker and Alaalatoa at tighthead.

Usual captain Harry Wilson has been rotated out of the side, as Kiss cycles through his stocks ahead of next year's home World Cup.

Rob Valetini lines up at number eight in place of Wilson, with Tom Hooper starting for the first time this year at blindside flanker. Queensland Reds star Fraser McReight starts at openside flanker, after coming off the bench in Townsville against Japan.

Argentina has named the same starting side that was defeated by world champions South Africa earlier this month.

Los Pumas enter this two-Test series against the Wallabies with several key players unavailable after facing the Wallabies in 2025.

Captain Julián Montoya, flanker Marcos Kremer and backs Mateo Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy are all unavailable.

Juan Martin Gonzalez, Juan Cruz Mallia and Pedro Rubiolo, who also faced the Wallabies in 2025, are injured.

The Wallabies are on a three-Test winning streak after two wins over Japan earlier this month, and a thumping 57-10 win over Italy in Perth in July.

Argentina has played four Tests in 2026, all at home, with just one win.

Los Pumas were defeated by Scotland and England, but defeated Wales during July's Nations Championship.

The South Americans then lost a standalone Test match to South Africa, pushing the world champions to a 17-10 defeat.

The Wallabies and Los Pumas each claimed a victory in the two matches played on Australian soil during last year's Rugby Championship.

In 2024, both nations also traded victories in the two matches played in Argentina.

WALLABIES (15-1): 15-Tom Wright, 14-Max Jorgensen, 13-Isaac Henry, 12-Hunter Paisami, 11-Harry Potter, 10-Carter Gordon, 9-Ryan Lonergan, 8-Rob Valetini, 7-Fraser McReight, 6-Tom Hooper, 5-Jeremy Williams, 4-Josh Canham, 3-Allan Alaalatoa (captain), 2-Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1-Isaac Kailea

Replacements: 16-Billy Pollard, 17-Angus Bell, 18-Massimo de Lutiis, 19-Lachlan Shaw, 20-Charlie Cale, 21-Tate McDermott, ⁠22-Ben Donaldson, 23-Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

ARGENTINA (15-1): 15-Geronimo Prisciantelli, 14-Rodrigo Isgro, 13-Lucio Cinti, 12-Faustino Sanchez Valarolo, 11-Ignacio Mendy, 10-Santiago Carreras, 9-Simon Benitez Cruz, 8-Joaquin Moro, 7-Benjamin Grondona, 6-Pablo Matera (captain), 5-Tomas Lavanini, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Moreno, 2-Ignacio Ruiz, 1-Boris Wenger

Replacements: 16-Leonel Oviedo, 17-Rodrigo Martinez, 18-Tomas Rapetti, 19-Efraín Elias, 20-Juan Penoucos, 21-Agustín Moyano, 22-Nicolas Roger, 23-Matias Moroni

ABC Sport will have a live blog of the first Test between the Wallabies and Argentina from 4am on Sunday, August 30.