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Bernard Foley handed Wallabies starting berth

Bernard Foley is back in the starting line-up
Image: Bernard Foley is back in the starting line-up for the crunch game with Argentina

Bernard Foley has been recalled at fly-half by Australia for Saturday's Rugby Championship match with Argentina, live on Sky.

Foley's return for his first start since the second Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand in August is one of two changes announced by coach Michael Cheika.

Foley replaces Kurtley Beale, who moves to inside centre, with Matt Toomua dropping to the bench for the crunch match the Wallabies must win to avoid finishing last in the Rugby Championship for the first time since 2012.

Hooker Tolu Latu, who has not played since the opening Bledisloe Cup clash in August, is also recalled as one of the nine replacements

Australia currently sit three points behind Argentina in the Championship with just one win from five matches. The Pumas have won twice, including a 23-19 win over the Wallabies in Queensland last month.

Wallabies head coach Michael Cheika
Image: Under-pressure Wallabies' coach Michael Cheika makes two changes against Argentina

Aussie coach Cheika said: "The playmakers have a really important role in driving everybody else and I think Foley since he has been left out has taken that on board.

"He took the disappointment on board as well and he didn't sulk, he got back into training and made sure he tried to improve himself and try and improve the team with that.

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"I feel like he's done that and he deserves the chance to come back in and have a look."

Cheika added the Wallabies were desperate to even the score against the Pumas on Saturday.

"Losing on the Gold Coast hurt us and we'll be looking to get some of that back on Saturday," he said.

"What do we need to change? The most important thing is just a single commitment to every play, especially in the forwards.

"In that game they mauled us."

Live Rugby Championship

Australia: 15 Dane Haylett-Petty, 14 Israel Folau, 13 Reece Hodge, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Marika Koroibete, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Will Genia, 1 Scott Sio, 2 Folau Fainga'a, 3 Taniela Tupou, 4 Izack Rodda, 5 Adam Coleman, 6 Ned Hanigan, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 8 David Pocock

Replacements: 16 Tolu Latu, 17 Sekope Kepu, 18 Allan Alaalatoa, 19 Rob Simmons, 20 Rory Arnold, 21 Caleb Timu, 22 Nick Phipps, 23 Matt Toomua, 24 Tom Banks

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