Los Pumas give No.10 jersey to Urdapilleta
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Flyhalf Benjamin Urdapilleta was handed his first Test start in six years as Argentina made four changes on Thursday for their World Cup game against Tonga, following their nail-biting defeat to France.
Urdapilleta, who scored two penalties after coming on as a replacement in the 21-23 loss in Tokyo, comes in for Nicholas Sanchez who drops to the bench.
Left wing Santiago Carreras will make his first Test start, while hooker Julian Montoya and No.8 Tomas Lezana are the other new faces for Saturday’s game in Hanazono.
There was no place in the 23 for Juan Manuel Leguizamon, who is just one Test appearance away from equalling Felipe Contepomi’s Argentina record of 87.
Argentina will be gunning for a bonus-point win against a tough Tongan team who gave England a physical workout in their 35-3 defeat last weekend.
¡Equipo listo para este sábado! Desde la 1.45 hs en el Estadio Hanazono, se juega la segunda fecha de la #RWC2019. En este momento más que nunca, ¡#VamosPumas! #ARGvTGA pic.twitter.com/nwwh02Zwhg
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) September 26, 2019
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 11 Santiago Carreras, 10 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Tomas Lezana, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Nicolas Sanchez, 23 Bautista Delguy.
Date: Saturday, September 28
Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiosaka City
Kick-off: 13.45 (01.45 Argentina time; 04.45 GMT; 17.45 Tonga time)
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)
