THE Wallabies fly out of Sydney today for two of the most pivotal tests they have played in years, with many knowing their futures are on the line after last weekend’s embarrassing home loss to Argentina.

Australia desperately needs to beat both South Africa and the Pumas on the road but the odds are heavily stacked against them after a season where they have lurched from one disaster to the next.

If they lose both, or even one of the two Tests, heads will surely roll and the casualties could include the coach Michael Cheika and his assistants.

The good news is that Michael Hooper has been given the all-clear to rejoin his wounded teammates after he watched the woeful loss to the Pumas from the sideline because of a hamstring problem.

He trained this week and came through unscathed so unless he has a relapse he will replace David Pocock as openside flanker and skipper for the first match against the Springboks at Port Elizabeth on Sept. 29.

“There’s an opportunity presented to us now to get some good victories overseas and that’s going to come from consistency in the way that we play,” Cheika said.

Pocock will return to No. 8 after Pete Samu, who started at the back of scrum in each of the last two Tests, was ruled out for four weeks after injuring his knee in the loss to Argentina at the Gold Coast. With no hope of recovering in time for the final Rugby Championship match against the Pumas in Salate on Oct. 6, he was left behind.

Flanker Lukhan Tui was also missing from Cheika’s expanded 30-man squad after announcing he was taking the rest of the year off after his altercation with an irate fan in the aftermath of last week’s defeat which left the Wallabies at the bottom of the standings and out of contention for the title.

Cheika, facing increasing pressure to turnaround the team’s fortunes after losing five of their seven outings in 2018, has included two uncapped players in his squad, though neither is likely to start in the Tests though they could get some game time off the bench.

Melbourne Rebels flanker Angus Cottrell looms as the best bet in the absence of Samu and Tui. At 28, youth isn’t exactly on his side but he impressed in Super Rugby and already has green and gold in his bloodlines as his grandfather Nev played 14 tests for Australia and captained the Wallabies in two Tests against the British Lions in 1950.

Jake Gordon joined Nick Phipps as one of two reserve halfbacks to Will Genia. Gordon replaces Joe Powell, who was sent back to the Canberra Vikings to get some game time.

“We have got some new additions to the squad and these guys have shown plenty of grit and determination to get an opportunity at a higher level so now we’re looking for them to add that to the mix.

“We’re very determined to make sure that we repay the faith and show people what we’re about in the way we play.”

Qantas Wallabies 30-man squad for Rugby Championship tour of South Africa and Argentina

Forwards
Allan Alaalatoa (27 Tests, Brumbies, 24)

Rory Arnold (17 Tests , Brumbies, 28)

Adam Coleman (26 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)

Angus Cottrell* (uncapped, Melbourne Rebels, 28)

Folau Fainga’a (3 Tests, Brumbies, 23)

Ned Hanigan (15 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 23)

Michael Hooper (c) (85 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 26)

Sekope Kepu (97 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 32)

Brandon Paenga-Amosa (3 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)

David Pocock (72 Tests, Brumbies, 30)

Tatafu Polota-Nau (86 Tests, Leicester, 33)

Tom Robertson (24 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 24)

Izack Rodda (11 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)

Rob Simmons (89 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)

Scott Sio (49 Tests, Brumbies, 26)

Caleb Timu (2 Tests, Queensland Reds, 24)

Taniela Tupou (6 Tests, Queensland Reds, 22)

Backs
Tom Banks (2 Tests, Brumbies, 24)

Kurtley Beale (78 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)

Israel Folau (67 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)

Bernard Foley (62 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 28)

Will Genia (94 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 30)

Jake Gordon* (uncapped, NSW Waratahs, 25)

Dane Haylett-Petty (25 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 29)

Reece Hodge (31 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 23)

Marika Koroibete (15 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)

Jack Maddocks (4 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 21)

Sefa Naivalu (7 Tests, Melbourne Rebels, 26)

Nick Phipps (67 Tests, NSW Waratahs, 29)

Matt Toomua (37 Tests, Leicester/Melbourne Rebels, 28)

*denotes uncapped