The wounded Wallabies have recalled discarded flanker Dave Dennis to their squad and are closely looking at starting powerhouse lock Sitaleki Timani in Saturday night’s Rugby Championship clash with Argentina in Perth.
Dennis and Timani will both join Australia’s injury-hit and outmuscled forwards group on Sunday afternoon following Saturday night’s painful 38-12 loss to South Africa at Suncorp Stadium.
NSW Waratahs skipper Dennis, cut from the 30-man squad last month, replaces reserve back-rower Jake Schatz, who faces six weeks on the sidelines following knee surgery.
Schatz had been poised to make his Test debut off the bench against the Springboks but was a late withdrawal due to knee swelling.
Scans showed two tears to his meniscus and McKenzie doesn’t expect him to be available again until the five-match spring tour of Europe in November.
Timani, originally overlooked after signing to play in France, had already been put on notice for a recall after captain James Horwill suffered a minor hamstring strain.
Australia will need all the power and muscle they can get against the Pumas, who have performed strongly in their past two losses – 22-17 against the Boks in Mendoza and 28-13 to the All Blacks in Hamilton.
On top of Horwill, the Wallabies are without injured tall timbers Hugh McMeniman, Peter Kimlin and Hugh Pyle.
“We’re digging deep in that second row area at the moment so we’re not ruling anything in or out,” McKenzie said of Timani’s starting chances at Paterson Stadium on Saturday night.
Australia sorely missed Horwill as well as four more of their most physical forwards – Scott Higginbotham, David Pocock, Tatafu Polota-Nau and Wycliff Palu – as the Springboks dominated the collisions, breakdown and scrum for their first win in Brisbane in 42 years.
“It’s easy to lament who’s not here but in the end we’ve got the players who have earned their spots and they are desperate to go out there and play,” McKenzie said.
“They have to make the most of their opportunities, and it’s their time to shine, so if we’re not getting the outcome then we’ll go back and have a look.”
