Wallabies

The Tonga-born prop agreed a deal to remain with the Queensland Super Rugby franchise and continue to be available for the Wallabies until after the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Tupou has won 13 caps for Australia since making his debut against Scotland in 2017, having made a big impact with the Reds after joining them straight from high school five years ago.

The 23-year-old said: "I'm very excited to sign for the next few years. Queensland and Australia offered me the first opportunity out of school and I feel I have more to do to repay that faith.

Forget the fact, for a moment, that the 47-26 thrashing at Optus Stadium on Saturday night means the All Blacks must win in Auckland next week to retain the Bledisloe Cup.

Lock Barrett, who was sent off for ramming his shoulder into the neck of Wallabies captain Michael Hooper in the 40th minute, has ensured the All Blacks will be under the microscope ahead of, and during, the global tournament in Japan.

It's hard enough to defend the Webb Ellis Cup without distractions, and Barrett's moment of madness will do his countrymen no favours ahead of the event in the Far East.

Veterans Nic White, Christian Lealiifano and James O'Connor will suit up against the All Blacks in Perth tonight after long absences, and Hooper says it's stoked the fire to break the 17-year trophy drought.

Inspirational five-eighth Lealiifano hasn't played in a trans-Tasman duel since 2013, and has subsequently battled leukaemia.

Hooper said the Brumbies playmaker would bring a cool head to the cauldron of the clash.

Australia do not name their team until Thursday but it is understood coach Michael Cheika is set to make a number of changes for the match at Perth on Saturday.

O'Connor's selection at No 13 in place of Tevita Kuridrani is set to be the big talking point, with the Brumbies centre understood to have been left out of the match day 23 altogether.

It caps a remarkable comeback for O'Connor, who played his first game since 2013 for the Wallabies two weeks ago in Brisbane, coming off the bench.

Pocock has not played a game since March after injuring his calf during the Super Rugby season, and after touring with the Wallabies all winter but working on his own, the world-class flanker has been back training with the main squad this week in Perth.

All Blacks assistant coach Ian Foster expects him to play.

"You always prepare for that sort of scenario. But we have played against those two (Pocock and Michael Hooper) when they play together, a number of times."

But the Wallabies’ pack must apply consistency back up their performance against the All Blacks in Perth next week, or risk losing the positive impact on their reputation as scrummagers.

After sitting out the Johannesburg Test with injury, Sio’s return in Brisbane to a front row also containing Folau Faingaa and Sekope Kepu helped the Wallabies scrum turn in a dominant show over the Pumas.

Encouragingly for coach Michael Cheika, the dominance continued when the bench front rowers were rolled out in the second half; James Slipper, Taniela Tupou and Tolu Latu.

Despite not having played for six months with a calf injury, Pocock has been travelling with the Wallabies since they went into camp in June.

There have been no fixed dates about when - or if - the champion flanker will return during the Rugby Championship, but unlike other weeks in the competition, Pocock was named in the Wallabies’ squad ahead of the Bledisloe Cup clashes in Perth and Auckland.

Reports that Pocock ran at full speed two weeks ago led to speculation the backrower could play club rugby, and then make a return for the Wallabies against the All Blacks.

After making his return from a foot injury for Wests in Queensland Premier Rugby almost a fortnight ago, the teen speedster was loaned to QPR rivals Sunnybank for the final round of fixtures to allow him valuable game time as he continues to recover from a foot injury that cruelled his Super Rugby season.

After a 20-minute cameo in his return, Petaia played half a game for the Dragons in their 41-29 win over Bond University on Saturday.

And while he had few chances in open space, Sunnybank coach Evan Willis said there were signs Petaia was returning to his best.

Lealiifano, 31, is set for his first Australia appearance since June 2016, having returned to form with the Brumbies after a battle with leukaemia.

While Lealiifano was named to start at fly-half for the Wallabies in the Rugby Championship clash in Brisbane on Saturday, O'Connor is among the reserves.

O'Connor has played 44 Tests for the Wallabies, but the last of those was in September 2013, also against Argentina.

Isa, who plays for Toulon, will start for the first time since 2016 when he runs out at no. 8 for Argentina this weekend, replacing Javier Ortega Desio in the starting lineup.

Exeter's Cordero will start on the wing, set to potentially go up against current Premiership teammate Nic White in Saturday's Suncorp Stadium clash.

Cordero's comeback pushes Matias Moroni into outside centre with Matias Orlando coming off the bench.