'Harry's the man': Kiss explains captain's omission

Les Kiss has reiterated his faith in Wallabies captain Harry Wilson, backing him as "the man" despite leaving him out of the side to face Argentina.

Australia will play Los Pumas in back-to-back Tests - in San Salvador, this Sunday (AEST) and Mendoza a week later - before returning to face South Africa in Perth and then battle for the Bledisloe Cup.

Wilson skippered the side in successive wins over Japan to begin the Kiss reign but won't suit up this weekend. The No.8 has been rested and replaced as captain by veteran prop Allan Alaalatoa.

Rob Valetini will take Wilson's place at the back of the scrum while Tom Hooper and Fraser McReight make up the rest of the backrow, with Charlie Cale on the bench and Carlo Tizzano missing out.

Wilson burst onto the scene in his debut Super Rugby season in 2020 but was then bumped down the pecking order and ultimately overlooked for the 2023 World Cup.

But after becoming the eighth Test captain in 15 Tests less than a year later, he has remained a consistent figurehead under Joe Schmidt and now Kiss.

That's despite immense competition for spots in a position Kiss has openly conceded he's looking to tinker with to discover true depth.

The coach has shut down any queries over his standing though, declaring "Harry's the man" to lead the side into next year's Cup just as he did against the British and Irish Lions last year.

"I named a captain, that's Harry, and obviously when I don't pick him there's another captain that steps up," he said.

"But you know, Harry's the man who is in. He, he's the man that I will back.

"The characteristics that he's shown in that jersey; shows his emotion, his footy smarts, he's a great footy player has a respect to the players, works his bollocks off every time he's on the pitch."

"The responsibility of that is massive, but I don't want it to be a weight.

"I want it to be something that inspires whoever is the captain, and someone who's been through the mill and doing the job is probably the first person I'll look to, as we get into '27."

With a crowded Test calendar ahead of next year's showpiece Kiss said now was the time to give Wilson a break, with the bigger picture goal of identifying different stylistic combinations that can work on the biggest stage.