Wellington hero benched for Argentina
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Los Pumas made minor changes to their starting line-up that went down to New Zealand ahead of their Rugby Championship clash with Australia in La Plata.
There are five changes in the starting line-up and a totally new-look bench consisting of seven changes with three being positional to the one that did duty in the second Test against New Zealand.
Santiago Cordero comes in for Matias Moroni on the right wing in the only change for the backline.
In the pack, there are a few more changes with Joaquin Oviedo missing out on selection. He is replaced by Juan Martin Gonzalez who shifts from flank to No.8.
Marcos Kremer reverts back to No.7 after playing lock in the second Test against New Zealand with Franco Molina taking the No.4 jumper.
Lucio Sordoni who struggled in the scrums against New Zealand has been replaced by Joel Sclavi at tighthead prop making up the front row alongside Thomas Gallo and captain Julian Montoya.
The bench consists of seven changes but the most notable is that of Agustin Creevy, who scored the match-winning try against the All Blacks in Wellington. he comes in for Ignacio Ruiz to provide some experience off the bench.
Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (vice captain), 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (captain),1 Thomas Gallo.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Santiago Grondona, 22 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 23 Tomas Albarnoz.
Date: Saturday, August 31
Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata
Kick-off: 19.00 (22.00 GMT; 08.00 AEST Sunday, September 1)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Pierre Brousset (France)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)
