Two years later, Ala’alatoa returns as Wallabies captain in a hometown test against Georgia

SYDNEY (AP) — Nearly two years after Allan Ala’alatoa first captained Australia in a losing cause at Florence, Italy, the veteran prop will get a second chance on Saturday in a similar situation.

Ala’alatoa was skipper of the Wallabies in November 2022 when they lost to Italy 28-27. He was named captain for that match to replace regular skipper James Slipper, who was rested.

Fast forward to this week when Australia head coach Joe Schmidt decided to rest veteran Slipper — who captained the Wallabies last week in their second consecutive win over Wales — and replace him with the 30-year-old, Sydney-born Ala’alatoa for Australia’s test against Georgia in his hometown on Saturday afternoon.

He’s the third captain in three weeks for Australia. Liam Wright suffered a shoulder injury in his first match as captain in the first test against Wales and was replaced by Slipper last week.

“To be able to captain Australia in my home town, to have that armband on, will be very special,” Ala’alatoa said Friday. “I have a lot of family coming out tomorrow . . . my parents can’t wait.”

In addition to Ala’alatoa being named captain, Queensland Reds backrower Harry Wilson was recalled for the first time since 2022 and a rugby sevens player was given a debut among 10 changes to the Australian side.

Schmidt continued to rotate through his squad when he announced the 23 for his third test in charge, explaining that it’s all in preparation for his Rugby Championship kickoff next month against world champion South Africa.

Wilson will start at No. 8 in a backrow also featuring Fraser McReight and Rob Valetini, the only two forwards retained in the starting pack.

“You’ve got to keep growing your depth,” Schmidt said. “We’ve got a very short-term focus, long-term view. It’s a paradox you almost have to employ so that you best vaccinate against future injury or future changes or form.”

Alex Hodgman, a 31-year-old Reds prop who played four test matches for the All Blacks in 2020, is listed as a reserve. He qualifies for a switch on residency and family grounds and if he makes it into Saturday’s match, he’d become the fourth player to represent both Australia and New Zealand, and the first in 50 years.

Georgia has never played a test match in Australia. The Wallabies have won the only two previous encounters at Rugby World Cup tournaments, including a 35-15 win in Paris last year.

Georgia had wins over Six Nations regulars Wales and Italy in 2022 and is coming off an upset 25-23 win last weekend over Japan, a week after a 21-12 loss to Fiji.

Richard Cockerill, who played for England and was an interim coach last year, has been working with Georgia since January. He has a big forward pack that excels at the set piece and will take on the Wallabies’ weakness: the driving maul.

“We know that Georgia is a bloody good team, a quality team, beating Japan like they did,” Ala’alatoa said Friday. “We are going to be in for a physical game for sure.”

___

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby