The Wallabies secured a 27-21 victory over Argentina in San Salvador de Jujuy, marking their fourth consecutive win, but the performance highlighted ongoing imperfections, particularly around the captaincy decision. Rob Valetini, starting at No 8 in place of captain Harry Wilson, delivered a dominant display, while Fraser McReight's man-of-the-match performance has intensified the debate over the team's leadership.
Valetini's Impact and the Captaincy Question
Valetini, who turns 28 this week, bulldozed through the Argentine defense, reinforcing his value ahead of next year's home World Cup. His performance, however, may have cast doubt on the role of the rested captain, Harry Wilson. Coach Les Kiss acknowledged the team's imperfections, telling Stan Sport, "We weren't perfect, neither were they." Winger Max Jorgensen echoed this, saying, "It wasn't near perfect, we've still got a lot of work to do, but to come away with a win in Argentina is very good."
Wilson has been inspirational in recent matches, including a try in the win over England and a decisive score against South Africa, but the emergence of McReight and Carlo Tizzano as world-class openside flankers has created a selection conundrum. Kiss has expressed a desire to see McReight and Tizzano play together, and McReight captained the Wallabies in Wilson's absence against South Africa last year.
Team Performance and Key Moments
The Wallabies' win was not without errors. Scrumhalf Tate McDermott had a kick charged down and another that failed to find touch, while flyhalf Carter Gordon, despite returning bravely from a facial injury, sent a late kick dead in goal. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii showed promise in a 15-minute cameo at outside centre, including a gallop and offload, though some fans wanted him on the wing.
Australia's best backline move of the day involved no backs at all: a try engineered by forwards Fraser McReight, Jeremy Williams, Josh Canham, and Brandon Paenga-Amosa, culminating in an aerial finish. Kiss praised the forward pack's commitment, noting, "Those options will narrow down as we get closer to the end of the year, but at this stage, I'm really happy with how the forward pack have bought into what we're trying to achieve."
Backrow Depth and Leadership Dynamics
Tom Hooper, who started at blindside flanker and scored, praised his backrow colleagues after the match: "As the lineout forward, I know that I've just got to get through a bit of work, and those guys can do the flashy stuff. Bobby can wreck blokes and Fraser's usually sniffing around for a bit of meat, so it's a good combination." Hooper, who plays for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership, may miss upcoming fixtures against South Africa and New Zealand due to club commitments.
Former Wallaby Tim Horan, speaking on Stan broadcast, highlighted McReight's leadership, saying, "It was interesting to see how animated Fraser McReight was in that second half. I'm sure he's very proud of his forward pack, but his leadership took another step today." Kiss has named McReight captain of the Queensland Reds, and he led the Wallabies in the second half against Argentina when Allan Alaalatoa went off.
Wilson remains a key contributor and is expected to return for the second Test in Mendoza, where the Wallabies have faced recent humiliations, including a 67-27 defeat two years ago. The opportunity for the returning captain to solidify his role is the only thing perfect about the upcoming week.
