Hodge beats OConnor to vacant fullback jersey as Rennie sticks with stars

Reece Hodge has beaten James O’Connor in the race for the vacant fullback jersey as coach Dave Rennie prepares to reveal the team which will face Argentina in Townsville on Saturday night.

An arm fracture suffered by incumbent fullback Tom Banks â€" who will miss the next eight to 10 weeks â€" has forced at least one change to the starting XV which will face the Pumas at Queensland Country Bank Stadium and Rennie has opted for the player often deemed the Wallabies’ Mr Fix It.

Outside of halfback, Hodge has played every position in the Wallabies backline in his 51-Test career and while his audition for the No.15 jersey when Banks was forced from the field against the Springboks was just fair, a Wallabies source confirmed the Rebels star would start against Argentina.

Rennie has opted for Hodge instead of James O’Connor and Jordan Petaia, who were the other contenders for the role.

Sources with knowledge of the team’s thinking have told the Herald O’Connor’s lack of game time â€" the star playmaker has been sidelined due to injury since May â€" and Petaia’s lack of experience at fullback were taken into consideration.

The Wallabies also place great emphasis on fullbacks that can effectively diffuse the high ball and the selection panel have backed Hodge to improve on a shaky start in that department against South Africa.

Reece Hodge and Quade Cooper after the Wallabies’ victory over the Springboks on Saturday.Credit:Getty

With two Tests against Argentina to be followed by a four-Test spring tour, the selection has provided a golden opportunity for Hodge to stake a claim for a regular position in the starting XV â€" a chance only afforded to him on a handful of occasions through a career in which he has largely been utilised as a substitute.

While Banks is viewed internally as an important piece in the team the Wallabies are building for the 2023 World Cup, his performances over the last two years have left the door open for one of Hodge or Petaia, who is expected to play more fullback for the Queensland Reds next season, to challenge for the No. 15 jersey.

The selection also leaves O’Connor, who was the first choice five-eighth before injuries cruelled his international season, in the lurch.

His ability to cover several positions may leave him as an obvious choice to take Hodge’s place on the bench, but he has still not started in a Test match this season.

Quade Cooper was man of the match in his return to the Test arena and wasn’t far off that honour in the 30-17 win at Suncorp Stadium, earning incumbency in front of Noah Lolesio and O’Connor, who has been fit and available for selection for the past fortnight.

Elsewhere, Sean McMahon is expected to feature in the 23-man squad, his first selection in a Wallabies side for four years.

McMahon, who played his last Test against Scotland on the 2017 spring tour before taking a lucrative contract with Suntory Sungoliath, will add extra punch to a back row which dominated South Africa in Brisbane.

Apart from forced changes, Rennie is expected to keep the bulk of the stars that led the team to back-to-back wins against the world champion Springboks in the starting XV as he seeks three consecutive wins for the first time in his tenure.

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