Rugby
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Rugby Championship: Michael Hooper out, David Pocock to captain Wallabies

Rugby, Rugby Championship

Newly-installed captain David Pocock is sure the latest Wallabies' reshuffle won't rattle the side on Saturday night as they prepare for battle without Michael Hooper.

Pocock will captain against Argentina on the Gold Coast after regular skipper Hooper's late withdrawal with the same hamstring concern with which he missed the back end of the Super Rugby season.

Peter Samu will move from the bench to start at No.8 alongside new No.7 Pocock, while Ned Hanigan has been added to the reserves.

It marks the third time in the Wallabies' four matches in the Rugby Championship series that at least one player has been pulled from the originally-named squad.

Pocock (neck) and Israel Folau (ankle) were both rubbed out before last weekend's win against South Africa, while Adam Coleman was a game-day scratching after he flew home for the impending birth of his first child.

Taniela Tupou (hamstring) was also a last-minute withdrawal from the series-opening loss to New Zealand in Sydney.

All four are back in the side to face Los Pumas on Saturday at Cbus Super Stadium, but Folau is on the wing rather than in his usual No.15 jersey, and Bernard Foley has been benched again in favour of a Matt Toomua-Kurtley Beale playmaking combination.

While acknowledging that he was still managing his own health, Pocock said the disruptions had become the norm and may actually help coach Michael Cheika's side ahead of next year's World Cup.

"I think it does; it forces you to adapt and one of the things Cheik has done really well is bring in a bunch of new talent," he said.

"If this (run of injuries) had of happened before the last World Cup I think we'd be in some serious strife.

"But as it is now there's a bunch of guys that have been part of the group, know how we play and have been able to slot in."

The Wallabies can jump to second in the Rugby Championship standings, behind the All Blacks, with a win on Saturday.

They'll start as comfortable favourites with bookies but the hosts are wary of a side that pushed New Zealand last weekend and beat South Africa in their last start at home.

"They mix a big, abrasive forward pack with some real flare out wide," he said.

"So you've really got to cater for everything in defence."

Updated squads

Australia: Dane Haylett-Petty, Israel Folau, Reece Hodge, Marika Koroibete, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale, Will Genia, Pete Samu, David Pocock (c), Lukhan Tui, Izack Rodda, Rory Arnold, Allan Alaalatoa, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio. Reserves: Folau Faingaa, Sekope Kepu, Taniela Tupou, Adam Coleman, Ned Hanigan, Nick Phipps, Bernard Foley, Jack Maddocks

Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy (captain), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Reserves: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Matias Alemanno, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Martin Landajo, Bautista Ezcurra, Juan Cruz Mallia

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