Jed Holloway has capped a remarkable return to Australian rugby in 2022, after earning his first Test start in the Wallabies' Rugby Championship opener against Argentina in Mendoza on Sunday morning [AEST].
Holloway has been named at blindside flanker in one of three key changes to Dave Rennie's run-on side, with the in-form Tom Wright given the nod at fullback after two Tests on the right wing. And there is an instant recall for the fit-again Quade Cooper, as expected, after the veteran playmaker injured his calf during the warm-up for the first Test against England in Perth. Cooper would go on to play no part in the series.
But it is Holloway's inclusion that will catch the eye, given the veteran Waratahs forward was seemingly lost to Australian rugby at the end of 2019.
"In terms of off-field issues, there's not anything with the playing group or disconnect, but I guess it's just more so around culture and the struggles with that that we kind of had there and the challenge that it is," a disillusioned Holloway told ESPN after his departure.
But 18 months later Holloway was back as one of incoming coach Darren Coleman's key recruits, the 29-year-old proving a key cog in a Waratahs rebuild that saw NSW go from a winless 2021 season to a quarterfinal in Super Rugby Pacific.
When Jake Gordon was injured early in the season, Coleman then made Holloway captain as he stamped his authority on a young forward pack, his dominant lineout work and skillful ball-handling in a linking role grabbing the attention of national selectors.
Rennie had flagged Holloway's inclusion before naming his 36-man squad for the three-Test series with England - which the tourists won 2-1 by virtue of their 21-17 triumph in Sydney - hinting that Holloway's ability to cover both lock and No. 6 was something the Wallabies could use.
And Holloway will now follow in the footsteps of Waratahs teammate Dave Porecki in making his Test debut after returning from an oversees stint. Ironically, Porecki will miss Sunday's clash with the Pumas after picking up a head knock at training at the start of the week.
Porecki's absence sees Folau Fainga'a come in at hooker alongside Allan Alaalatoa, who starts ahead of Taniela Tupou, and James Slipper to make an all-Brumbies front-row.
At lock, Darcy Swain returns from his two-game suspension for a head-butt to partner Matt Philip at lock, with rising star Nick Frost dropping back to the bench after his maiden run-on start in the loss to England at the SCG.
Rob Valetini shifts back to No. 8 after starting on the side of the scrum in Sydney, with skipper Michael Hooper rounding out the back-row alongside Holloway.
Cooper's return at fly-half sees his successful partnership with Nic White from last year's Rugby Championship reprised, but the duo will be without midfield battering ram Samu Kerevi after he suffered a season-ending knee injury while away on sevens duty at the Commonwealth Games.
Kerevi's absence sees Hunter Paisami shift one spot close in, while Len Ikitau is recalled at outside centre after coming off the bench against England in Sydney.
Jordie Petaia has cleared his bout of concussion to start on the right wing with the irrepressible Marika Koroibete in his familiar role on the left. Wright's move to fullback completes the back three.
Angus Bell's toe injury has meanwhile opened up the opportunity for Rebels prop Matt Gibbon to make his own Test debut off the bench. Rennie has opted for a 6-2 split among the replacements to counter what will likely be a staunch physical challenge from the Pumas.
The Wallabies won both of their Tests against the Pumas last year as part of a five-game winning run, but it was only one year earlier that they drew back-to-back matches with the South Americans in what was Dave Rennie's first year in charge.
Argentina are now coached by former Wallabies boss Michael Cheika, the Australian overseeing a 2-1 series victory over Scotland that was played before packed houses in what was the Pumas' first rugby on home soil since 2019.
AUSTRALIA: Tom Wright, Jordie Petaia, Len Ikitau, Hunter Paisami, Marika Koroibete, Quade Cooper, Nic White; Rob Valetini, Michael Hooper, Jed Holloway, Matt Philip, Darcy Swain, Allan Alaalatoa, Folau Fainga'a, James Slipper. Replacements: Lachlan Lonergan, Matt Gibbon, Taniela Tupou, Nick Frost, Rob Leota, Pete Samu, Jake Gordon, Reece Hodge.