-
ESPN staff
Sean McMahon will make his long-awaited return to the Test arena with confirmation he will be named among the Wallabies replacements for their closing Rugby Championship clash with Argentina.
McMahon hasn’t played for the national team since the Wallabies were thumped 53-24 by Scotland in the final game of their 2017 spring tour.
The Queenslander has spent the past four years with Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League and is contracted with the club through 2023.
But he will follow the lead of Suntory teammate Samu Kerevi in returning to the Wallabies squad under the tweaked conditions of Rugby Australia’s [RA] Giteau Law, a team spokesperson confirmed to ESPN.
RA has for the last two years given Wallabies coach Dave Rennie a wider remit to select players who do not meet the existing 60-Test or seven-year Super Rugby participation threshold, to help deal with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RA is currently reviewing its Giteau Law framework with an updated list of conditions set to be revealed in the coming weeks.
Wallabies skipper Michael Hooper, veteran playmaker Quade Cooper and Kerevi have all returned to the Test scene after playing in Japan this season, the three men consistently among the team’s top performers in Australia’s three straight victories.
McMahon will bring a physical edge to the Wallabies back-row when he does come onto the field at Cbus Super Stadium, his robust defense and ball-carrying a welcomed addition to what is an improving forward unit.
Australia will face a weakened Pumas outfit after six players were withdrawn from selection after they broke tournament protocols and travelled into NSW to attend a health retreat.
Rennie will reveal his full squad later on Thursday.