McMahon set to return as Wallabies meet Pumas

Wed, Sep 29, 2021, 8:00 PM
AAP & Staff Writer
by AAP & Staff Writer
Wallabies scrumhalf Nic White and back Jordan Petaia have spoken to media from the Gold Coast.

Backrower Sean McMahon is set to play his first Test in nearly four years after being named on the bench for the Wallabies' Rugby Championship clash with Argentina on Saturday.

The 27-year-old is among the changes as the Australians gun for an unprecedented fourth successive win in the four-nations tournament.

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They overcame the Pumas 27-8 in Townsville last Saturday, with the CBus Super Stadium match on the Gold Coast their last of the championship.

McMahon has been playing in Japan for Top League side Suntory after leaving the Melbourne Rebels at the end of 2017, with his last Test against Scotland in late November that year.

Renowned for his physicality, he was a member of the 2015 World Cup squad and while contracted in Japan until the beginning of 2023 he could still play at the next tournament in France.

Brought back into the Wallabies fold by coach Dave Rennie, McMahon could be taken on Australia's Spring tour of Europe, where the team will play Scotland, England and Wales as well as Japan en route.

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While McMahon is a new face, Marika Koroibete will be missing from the line-up to be announced later on Thursday.

The powerhouse winger has returned to Melbourne to spend extra time with his family, including a newborn, before the Wallabies head to the UK at the end of October.

Youngster Jordan Petaia is tipped to start on the wing as his replacement.

“That’s one for the coaches. We’ve grown the depth within the squad nicely so we’re certainly shown throughout the year we can bring guys in different positions,” halfback Nic White said on Tuesday in regards to changes.

“Whoever gets the nod in whatever jersey that is, we train week-in-week-out and that’s the beauty of the last three months is we’ve had a big squad training together in the same system with the same gameplay so we know we’ve had more than enough time the combinations will be sweet.

“We’ve got good depth and whoever gets the nod will do us proud.”

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