Cheika changes up Los Pumas for Bok face-off
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Michael Cheika has made a number of changes to his team for their final Rugby Championship[ encounter, ahead of the World Cup.
Los Pumas travel to Ellis Park on Saturday to face off against the defending World Cup champions, South Africa.
Both teams will meet again next week – in a warm-up match in Buenos Aires.
However, Saturday’s Ellis Park showdown is crucial for both teams.
There are five changes to the Pumas team that beat Australia in Sydney a fortnight ago.
Rookie Santiago Chocobares will start in the midfield.
Other backline changes will see Lautaro Bazán Vélez start at scrumhalf, Juan Imhoff back on the left wing, Mateo Carreras move to the right wing and Juan Cruz Mallía starting at fullback.
Lock Lucas Paulos will make his first Test start, with his six previous appearances all off the bench.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Mateo Carreras, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Santiago Grondona, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Lucas Paulos, 3 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2 Julian Montoya (captain), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Pedro Rubiolo, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Tomás Albornoz, 23 Matias Moroni.
Date: Saturday, July 29
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT; 12.05 Argentina time)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Joy Neville (Ireland)
