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Australian Head Coach Michael Cheika has made seven changes to the Wallaby starting lineup to play Argentina in the Rugby Championship in Mendoza. After defeating South Africa in Brisbane the Australians are looking for back-to-back wins in the opening two rounds for the first time since the competition began in 2012.
Cheika lost Matt Giteau and Will Genia to injury and has decided to leave out Quade Cooper to therefore start an altogether different list of players from scrumhalf to inside center. Replacing Genia is Nick Phipps while his Waratahs teammate Bernard Foley starts in place of Cooper. The pair were the favored combination in 2014.
Matt Toomua replaces Giteau to join try-scoring hero Tevita Kuridrani in the mid-field while winger Joe Tomane has been named in place of Rob Horne. Another success this season from the Brumbies, David Pocock has been named ahead of Michael Hooper.
Additional changes to the pack see Greg Holmes and Ben McCalman both starting while Scott Higginbotham has been left out of the team.
Los Pumas Head Coach Daniel Hourcade is due to name his team on Thursday. The 2014 fixture, played in the same city, was son 21-16 by the South Americans.
Australia
1 James Slipper, 2 Stephen Moore (Captain), 3 Greg Holmes, 4 Will Skelton, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 David Pocock, 8 Ben McCalman, 9 Nick Phipps, 10 Bernard Foley, 11 Joe Tomane, 12 Matt Toomua, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 15 Israel Folau
16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Michael Hooper, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Kurtley Beale
