Contepomi names experienced Los Pumas side for Cardiff mission
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi named an experienced side to face Wales in their Nations Series opener.
Cardiff’s Principality Stadium once again hosts Los Pumas – a stadium and a city that, in recent memory, evokes the historic 43-20 victory against Ireland in 2015, which secured their place in the World Cup semifinals.
But those were different times. Felipe Contepomi’s men will face a revamped Wales side that has just ended an 18-match losing streak and has a new coach in Steve Tandy at the helm.
Three years have passed since Los Pumas last played in Wales.
The last time was in 2022, also during the international window, with the Argentine team losing 13-20.
The last match between the two teams was in the 2023 World Cup in France in the quarterfinals, with Los Pumas winning 29-17.
The stadium roof will remain closed on Sunday, and a large crowd is expected to cheer in the stands.
It will be the first match for both teams in this series of international encounters this November.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Cruz Benitez, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera (vice-captain), 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (captain), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Tomas Rapetti, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Santiago Grondona, 21 Agustin Moyano, 22 Juan Cruz Mallia, 23 Rodrigo Isgro
Date: Sunday, November 9
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15.10 (12.10 ART; 15.10 GMT)
Referee: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)