Greg Holmes (38) could become the oldest Wallabies player since WWII, after being named as a substitute for the Rugby Championship game against Argentina on Saturday in Brisbane, concluding the Hemisphere tournament South. For the moment, Tony Miller (38 years, 113 days) is the oldest international of the XV of Australia (in 1967).
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Holmes has not played in the national team for five years
Holmes, pillar of the Western Force, played his last game with the Wallabies in 2016. After his international debut in 2005, he was not called up between 2007 and 2015. Greg Holmes has 27 caps with the Australian XV.
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He was brought into Australia’s training camp in Perth last month by coach Dave Rennie to lend a hand. But his impact was such that he was offered another chance to play for the national team.
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McMahon also among the replacements
Third-row Sean McMahon (27) has also been selected as a substitute. He has not played in the selection since 2017, after signing with the Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.
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This decision prevented him from being selected as a foreign player. But changes to the regulations now allow the selection of two players playing abroad with less than 60 tests.
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The XV of Australia against Argentina
Hodge – Petaia, Ikitau, Kerevi, Kellaway – Cooper (o), White (m) – Valetini, Hooper (cap.), Samu – Swain, Rodda – Tupou, Fainga’a, Slipper.
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Substitutes : Lonergan, Bell, Holmes, Philip, McMahon, Gordon, O’Connor, Wright.
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