‘Brick wall’ centre backed for Wallabies debut

Cameron Shepherd has called for “brick wall” Hamish Stewart to make his Wallabies debut against Argentina on September 1 (AEST).
Stewart appears to be the frontrunner to replace Hunter Paisami in the gold No.12 jersey as Australia chase their first Rugby Championship win of the season in La Plata.
Paisami suffered a knee injury in Saturday’s 30-12 loss to the Springboks in Perth and the Wallabies must beat the Pumas to keep their faint title hopes alive.
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Hunter Paisami of the Wallabies leaves the field. Getty
Australia (0-2) hasn’t won the Rugby Championship since 2015 and the bookmakers have installed Argentina as warm favourites after going 1-1 against the defending champion All Blacks in New Zealand.
Stewart, 26, is one of Australia’s most reliable Super Rugby players and is yet to get an opportunity at Test level.
He played six seasons with the Reds before moving west to the Force and is now a 100-game Super Rugby veteran.
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Hamish Stewart of the Wallabies greets fans. Getty
“I’m leaning more towards bringing Hamish Stewart in,” former Wallabies outside back Shepherd said on Stan Sport’s Rugby Heaven.
“He had his best season of Super Rugby. He was fantastic with the Force. Defensively he was like a brick wall.”
Tim Horan, arguably the best inside centre ever, endorsed Stewart’s selection claims.
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“He’s put on a bit of size and he looks really fit,” Horan said.
New Brumbies signing David Feliuai was also on the plane to South America on Friday and is another option while Horan floated the merits of a backline reshuffle.
“Do you move (Len) Ikitau to 12 and Andrew Kellaway to 13?
“That’s a potential… that allows you to start (Max) Jorgensen on the wing. So they’ve got a few options there to work out.”
Shepherd had been critical of the decision to play Jorgensen against world champions South Africa but admitted he performed well.
“I was really impressed. He got involved early,” Shepherd said.
Max Jorgensen of the Wallabies runs the ball. Getty
“You could see that he was talking. A lot of young kids, when they first come into the Wallabies or even Super Rugby, they’re very quiet, because they’re afraid to make a mistake. He wasn’t.
“He seemed energetic in defence, to try and get involved.”
Horan added that the two Springboks defeats had exposed a lack of size in the Wallabies.
Taniela Tupou’s return would help against the Pumas but Joe Schmidt’s squad was still missing the injured Rob Leota.
Horan also bemoaned Rugby Australia’s inability to keep Waratahs enforcer Lachie Swinton from signing with Bordeaux.
“I don’t know why Rugby Australia let Lachie Swinton go overseas. Now he’s got some size about him. Imagine him coming off the bench,” Horan said.