Wallabies side overhauled for Argentina clash

Quade Cooper has been moved to the bench. Photo / Getty

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has overhauled his team, making seven changes to the starting line-up to face Argentina with Michael Hooper and Quade Cooper among the casualties.

Despite last week's last-gasp win over South Africa to open Australia's Rugby Championship campaign, Cheika has put a broom through the side for Saturday's clash in Mendoza as he continues to search for his best line-up ahead of the two Bledisloe Cup clashes with New Zealand then the World Cup.

David Pocock has won this round's battle for the openside flanker role, relegating fellow former captain Hooper to the bench.

Cheika resisted the temptation to start his two world-class fetchers - Pocock and Hooper - together in his backrow and recalled Ben McCalman at No.8 in place of Scott Higginbotham, who drops out of the match squad.

In the other change to the starting pack, renowned scrummager Greg Holmes get his first Test start in eight years, replacing prop Sekope Kepu, who drops to the bench.

The backline features a new halves combination in Nick Phipps and Bernard Foley. Phipps takes over from the injured Will Genia while five-eighth Foley gets his chance to impress after reclaiming the No.10 jersey with Cooper relegated to the bench.

"We have two fine playmakers in Quade and Bernard," Cheika said. "Both players can make an enormous impact on our team."

Joe Tomane is the injured Rob Horne's wing replacement while Matt Toomua will start at inside centre in place of Matt Giteau who is also out injured.

New faces on the bench include lock Dean Mumm, halfback Nic White and utility back Kurtley Beale, who returns from injury to bump Drew Mitchell out of the squad.

"We are fortunate with the level of depth in the squad to be able to cover for the injuries we sustained last Saturday night against the Springboks," said Cheika.

"They all deserve their start against Los Pumas and they now have an opportunity to build on the performance last week and stake their claims."

Wallabies: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Toomua, Joe Tomane, Bernard Foley, Nick Phipps, Ben McCalman, David Pocock, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Will Skelton, Greg Holmes, Stephen Moore, James Slipper. Res: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Scott Sio, Sekope Kepu, Dean Mumm, Michael Hooper, Nic White, Quade Cooper, Kurtley Beale.

- AAP