Wallabies

Warrick Gelant will start on the right wing in the place of the injured Jesse Kriel, while the experienced de Klerk returns to the halfback position after he was concussed playing against the All Blacks earlier this month.

Gelant is the fourth right wing in as many tests for the Springboks after Cheslin Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse and Kriel were all ruled out through either injury or suspension.

Taylor resigned for personal reasons this week, a few days after the Wallabies conceded seven tries in a record 48-17 loss to Argentina and ahead of back-to-back home tests against the world champion Springboks.

Fisher, currently in charge of the forwards at the Brumbies, is one of the most respected coaches in Australian rugby for his work at the Canberra-based team over the last two decades.

"We're grateful Laurie has been able to join us at such short notice and would also like to thank the Brumbies for their support too," said head coach Dave Rennie.

Foley was former coach Michael Cheika's go-to man in the position but has spent the last three years playing in Japan.

With Quade Cooper suffering a long-term Achilles' injury and Rennie not sold on back-up options James O'Connor and Noah Lolesio, 32-year-old Foley may have a chance to add to his 71 Wallabies caps.

Rennie has welcomed back a number of reinforcements to his 35-man squad named on Thursday after a horror run of injuries that saw a depleted Wallabies side smashed 48-17 by Argentina last weekend.

Wallabies fans may have hoped for results-based progress in Rennie's third season in charge but their team have now lost a home series to England, crashed to their heaviest defeat to Argentina and slumped to seventh in the world rankings.

The New Zealander will name his squad this week for back-to-back Rugby Championship matches against the Springboks starting in Adelaide on Aug. 27 and could welcome up to eight fit-again players back to camp.

The home side ran in seven tries for their biggest ever victory over the Wallabies, who have been depleted by injury and player absences for personal reasons.

Rennie will have learnt a lot from seeing his next best in action, but with the future of regular skipper Michael Hooper uncertain after he pulled out of the tour saying he was not in the right frame of mind to play, there will be concern a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France.

"Massive disappointment. Not good enough," Rennie told reporters.

Hodge came off the bench early in the second half after Cooper ruptured his Achilles and says he’s happy to again assume the utility role for Sunday’s (AEST) clash in San Juan, leaving Noah Lolesio or James O’Connor as chief playmaker.

Having played everywhere in the Australian backline apart from halfback, his versatility meant coach Dave Rennie could load up on forwards amongst his reserves to meet the power-packed Pumas.

Cooper went down in the first seven minutes of the second half after attempting one of his trademark goose steps. The 34-year-old immediately fell to the ground clutching his heel and was clearly in agony.

It has been confirmed that he suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon, a notoriously difficult injury to mend in the context of elite sports.

The injury could mean he doesn’t set foot back onto a rugby pitch until the mid-2023 and leaves the mercurial playmaker in a race against time to prove his fitness ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

In a statement, Rugby Australia say the 30-year-old ‘believes he’s not in the mindset to fulfill the responsibility that goes with leading and representing his country at this point in time.’

The 121-Test openside flanker has addressed his teammates to tell them and that ‘he has the utmost confidence in the group to get the job done tomorrow in Mendoza’.

James Slipper will lead the side in his place, while Fraser McReight will replace Hooper in the number seven jersey.

In other notable selections by Wallabies coach Dave Rennie for the clash on Sunday (AEST), Quade Cooper takes over the No.10 jumper from Noah Lolesio and Tom Wright wins the vacant fullback spot ahead of Jordan Petaia, who will start on the wing.

Cooper missed the recent England series after injuring his calf during the warm-up for the first Test and his call-up provides a spicy sidebar after his international career was all but ended by Michael Cheika, now coach of the Pumas.

Test attack coach Scott Wisemantel says he would “love” the coaching maestro to take on a role with Australia following next year’s Rugby World Cup in France when his contract with England ends.

It’s believed Rugby Australia has reached out to Jones about a possible role after he again crushed local hopes with a two-one series defeat this month.

The wily Jones, who thrives on gamesmanship between coaches, stole all of the headline during the series.