Hodge set to keep 10 jersey against Pumas for must-win Tri Nations match with O'Connor grounded

Tue, Nov 17, 2020, 5:00 AM
Christy Doran
by Christy Doran
Reece Hodge is set to wear the No.10 jersey for the Wallabies against Argentina with James O'Connor still grounded. Photo: Getty Images
Reece Hodge is set to wear the No.10 jersey for the Wallabies against Argentina with James O'Connor still grounded. Photo: Getty Images

Reece Hodge is set to keep the No.10 jersey for their must-win Tri Nations match against Argentina on Saturday in Newcastle.

While one-Test wonder Angus Bell and veteran Scott Sio will battle it out to replace injured Test centurion James Slipper at loose-head prop.

It's understood that first-choice fly-half James O'Connor will once again be sidelined.

O'Connor hasn't played since injuring his MCL during the Bledisloe II loss to the All Blacks at Eden Park on October 18. But it's not the MCL injury that will keep the 30-year-old grounded.

Wallabies officials expected O'Connor to be fit for the remaining two matches of the Tri Nations, but a foot injury looks set to keep the re-born playmaker sidelined for their penultimate match of the year.

WATCH THE WALLABIES TAKE ON THE PUMAS IN NEWCASTLE, NOV 21. TICKETS HERE

His absence looks set to spare coach Dave Rennie a selection headache after utility specialist Hodge - wearing the No.10 jersey for just the second time in his 43 Tests - led the Wallabies to a famous 24-22 victory over the All Blacks in Brisbane.

Hodge was praised in the victory for his composed display at fly-half, where he set-up the opening try of the match with a pin-point chip kick from first-phase, shored up the defence in the front-line and kicked well from both hand and off the tee.

But questions remain over whether the 26-year-old is a genuine long-term playmaker or simply a stop-gap measure. If Hodge can lead the Wallabies to another victory against a fired-up Pumas side, who defeated the All Blacks for the first time in their 35-year history last weekend, he will go a long way in convincing officials, including at the Melbourne Rebels, that he is a genuine 10 option.

Noah Lolesio, who struggled on debut during the Bledisloe III drubbing but bounced back off the bench a week later, is likely to keep his spot on the reserves.

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Meanwhile, Bell and Sio are in a fight to wear the No.1 jersey following Slipper's elbow injury.

Bell, having replaced Sio on the bench, was sensational on debut.

He carried well but more importantly he was rock solid at the scrum alongside Taniela Tupou.

But it's one thing coming off the bench, it's another starting against a pack coached by former Wallabies scrum guru Mario Ledesma.

Once upon a time the Pumas scrum was the envy of the world. That perception may have waned over time, but the Pumas' set-piece is showing signs of reemerging as a powerhouse in world rugby.

Bell, who spent the year learning off Slipper despite being at different Super Rugby clubs, said that Wallabies were aware of the threat at scrum time.

"They're a classy scrum," Bell told reporters from the team's training base in the Hunter Valley.

"What I've learnt off the older guys here at camp is that every scrum is pretty much at the same level at the international game.

"They're definitely a classy outfit and they're up there with one of the (best) scrums in the world."

Rennie will name his side on Thursday for the high-stakes clash.

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