Why Wallabies' new 'Pooper' combo can work

Fri, Aug 14, 2026, 4:56 AM
Murray Wenzel - AAP
by Murray Wenzel - AAP

Eleven years since the "Pooper-powered" Wallabies reached the Rugby World Cup final, the side is set to unleash another pair of pilfering flankers.

Les Kiss, in his second Test in charge, has reshaped his forward pack after surviving a 35-32 fright in steamy Osaka against Japan a week ago.

Watch every second of the Wallabies' Tests against Japan live and on demand via Stan Sport.

World-class No.7 Fraser McReight has been benched for Saturday's rematch, with Carlo Tizzano and Charlie Cale to start alongside No.8 and skipper Harry Wilson.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and second-gamer Lachie Shaw will combine in a new second row while elite props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou will start after playing key bench roles in Osaka.

McReight replaced Tizzano in their win over Italy but Kiss hopes to give them game time together in a partnership that harks back to the Michael Hooper-David Pocock backrow combination that steered the Wallabies to the 2015 World Cup final.

"It will be really exciting; two on-ball specialists, but with so many differences in their game," Wilson said of the potential McReight-Tizzano combination.

"Carlo's a good ball carrier in tight and Fraser's got his link game out wide.

"In the last 20, 25 minutes in these sort of (hot) conditions, to have two specialist on-ballers like them and even (bench utility) Filipo Daugunu, an unbelievable fetcher, it could play into our hands late in the game."

It won't be the first time "McZzano" has been deployed at Test level, with the pair finishing last year's end-of-season Test against Ireland together.

But Kiss is keen to see it for himself as he "future-proofs" the side ahead of a hectic Test calendar leading into next year's World Cup on home soil.

How Shaw and Salakaia-Loto fare in the lineout, which had been operating superbly under Josh Canham and Jeremy Williams, will also be key.

The second row is arguably Eddie Jones' Japan's greatest strength, with Warner Dearns and former Queensland Reds star Harry Hockings to start in Townsville.

Salakaia-Loto was left out of Joe Schmidt's squad for the coach's final three Tests but immediately recalled by Kiss.

The firebrand lock and hard-working Shaw spent last week in Osaka fine-tuning their combination.

"The set piece will be massive (and) ... he can't wait," Wilson said of Salakaia-Loto, who has played 45 Tests. 

"He's been wanting to be back here for quite a while and now gets his opportunity.

"He's a team man, won't go and try and do it by himself, he'll just have an impact in his own way and he's one of the more experienced guys now."

Bench prop Massimo De Lutiis will make history if he gets on the park, set to become the 1000th Wallaby.

The Wallabies lost six straight games before defeating Italy in Perth and now have the opportunity to win three consecutive Tests for the first time in nearly three years.

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