Ikitau ready for Wallabies midfield return against Argentina
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Len Ikitau is poised to rejoin the Wallabies' midfield for their upcoming match against Argentina after recovering from an ankle injury.
- Ikitau expressed flexibility regarding his position, stating he is comfortable playing either inside or outside center, or even as a reserve.
- The Wallabies face Argentina in San Salvador, with the team aiming for consistent performances after mixed results in recent tours.
Len Ikitau is ready to slot back into the Wallabies' midfield for their first test against Argentina, having recovered from an ankle injury that sidelined him for new coach Les Kiss's initial matches.
Weโll get to that when we get there, but happy to do my part whether thatโs 12 or 13. Or 23 or 22. Iโm quite happy as just a centre ... being able to cover both.
Ikitau, who missed the games against Japan, is expected to be a key player in the Pumas match in San Salvador on Saturday. While he is capable of playing both inside and outside center, his exact position remains uncertain. Hunter Paisami performed well in the number 12 jersey during Ikitau's absence, creating competition for places.
"Weโll get to that when we get there, but happy to do my part whether thatโs 12 or 13. Or 23 or 22. Iโm quite happy as just a centre ... being able to cover both," Ikitau said, emphasizing his willingness to play wherever needed. He also acknowledged the strong performances of other midfield options like Isaac Henry, who started at outside center in a win against Japan.
It was pretty cool, especially seeing Zaccy (Henry) debut and watching Hunter play again. I thought they did an amazing job in terms of leading the back line.
The Wallabies face a challenging Argentina side, despite the Pumas' slow start to their July tests. Australia has a history of inconsistent results on recent tours to Argentina, often winning the opening match before struggling in the second. "So for us, we want to be consistent in the way we play and just make sure that weโre putting in good performances and performances that weโre proud of," Ikitau stated, highlighting the team's focus on delivering reliable performances.
So for us, we want to be consistent in the way we play and just make sure that weโre putting in good performances and performances that weโre proud of.
Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.