Horan's warning as Wallabies change captain again

UPDATED: Harry Wilson will captain the Wallabies against Argentina on Sunday (8.10am kickoff AEST) as the leadership merry-go-round continues.

Incredibly, Wilson is Australia's eighth skipper in the last 15 Tests and the fourth under coach Joe Schmidt this season.

Schmidt has also used Liam Wright, James Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa as leaders since taking the reins from Eddie Jones.

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Zane Nonggorr, Harry Wilson and Nick Frost of Australia.

The turbulent Jones 2023 season saw Slipper, Alaalatoa, Michael Hooper, Tate McDermott, Will Skelton and Dave Porecki lead Australia.

Wright – Schmidt's original pick as captain – remains sidelined with a shoulder injury.

Wilson's ascension to become the 90th Wallabies captain caps a remarkable career revival after being ignored by Jones.

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Harry Wilson of the Wallabies takes to the field to train at Lakeside Stadium.

It allows Schmidt to start his most damaging props, Taniela Tupou and Angus Bell, with Alaalatoa providing leadership from the bench.

Popular Queensland No.8 Wilson has played 15 Tests and faces a difficult leadership assignment against a Pumas team that upset the All Blacks in Wellington this month.

"What a huge honour to do that," Wallabies legend Tim Horan said on Stan Sport's Rugby Heaven.

NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson and Sam Worthington discuss big Harry Wilson news as the Wallabies prepare to play Argentina

https://omny.fm/shows/rugby-world-cup-inside-line/shock-selection-set-to-become-wallabies-90th-capta/embed?in_playlist=podcast&style=Cover

"Joe, he's had so many different captains… I think in time though, what he's going to have to do is pick someone – whether it's a Fraser McReight, whether it's an Angus Bell or whether it's a Harry Wilson – someone who's going to be picked every single week in that side.

"Otherwise you end up chopping and changing and as a player, you don't know who the real captain is, or a vice-captain. So he's going to have to pick and stick at some stage for his captain."

Former Wallabies outside back Cameron Shepherd also weighed in on Rugby Heaven.

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"Some of the criticism that was coming out of the Wallabies camp, especially last year under Eddie – the debacle – is that we didn't have a strong enough leadership group," he said.

"So maybe the thought process from Schmidt is, let's get a large group of people that have captained the team, have garnered that respect from the players and then they can create that leadership and we can pick and choose depending on who's selected."

Former Wallabies loose forward Stephen Hoiles echoed Horan's 'pick and stick' call on Between Two Posts.

https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1828635306381152666?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

"We do need to get someone soon that is our Wallabies captain and let that person go on a genuine run," Hoiles said.

"And learn how to develop in the role because we've got the Lions coming here next year. We know who our coach is.

"We need to know who our senior leaders are, not just for the players on the field, but for the fans to get behind the game again."

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Schmidt has also named Hamish Stewart to start at inside centre.

The 26-year-old from the Force will become the 15th Test debutant under Schmidt.

"I want to see us go around the corner a lot more and stretch teams to the edge," Shepherd said.

Hamish Stewart of the Wallabies greets fans.

"We'll stretch Argentina to the edge. Taniela Tupou in short spaces is very dynamic around the corner. We hit him early, we can punch holes. I think that's where you're going to see him used mostly."

Schmidt is 3-2 with the Wallabies and this is his first away Test.

"Harry's been really good for us, and I think he's led himself really well," Schmidt said of the new skipper.

Harry Wilson offloads against Georgia.

"He has a natural propensity to express himself well, but with very few words. I don't think that we want to be doing too much talking. It's about the actions that he's going to deliver and lead from the front, effectively… we're pretty happy with the selection amongst the coaching group.

"Some of the coaches would know Harry better than I do. And even talking to some of the players about who would be best to step up, there was a lot of confidence around Harry."

Schmidt was unsure whether Wilson's appointment would be short or long-term.

Joe Schmidt talks to James Slipper of the Wallabies.

"It's really hard to say just because we are where we are with the balance of personnel we have at the moment," he said.

"And even the experience or lack thereof, particularly in terms of being captain at this level. There are other guys who will help him lead his way around the field as well.

"There are guys who have been provincial captains or Super club captains and there are guys who have accumulated a few more Tests than Harry.

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"But in terms of the way he's led himself, sometimes it's a balance about a guy playing really well in his position, and you just want him to stay focused on what he's delivering really well rather than distract him with another responsibility."

The Pumas, meanwhile, made three starting changes after losing 42-10 to the All Blacks in Auckland two weeks ago.

Joel Sclavi replaces prop Lucio Sordoni, who has gone to France to complete his transfer to Racing 92, Franco Molina is back in the second row and bumps Marcos Kremer to his regular position at flanker while Santiago Cordero is on the right wing for the injured Matias Moroni.

https://twitter.com/StanSportRugby/status/1829297952038273049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has opted for six forwards on his bench, including Guido Petti and Santiago Grondona who could make their first Test appearances this year.

PUMAS: (15-1): Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Cordero, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (c), Thomas Gallo

Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Santiago Grondona, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Tomas Albornoz

WALLABIES (15-1): Tom Wright, Andrew Kellaway, Len Ikitau, Hamish Stewart, Marika Koroibete, Noah Lolesio, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (c), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell

Reserves: Josh Nasser, Isaac Kailea, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Max Jorgensen

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