Five changes to Pumas side - including the return of two European powerhouses

The Pumas have restricted themselves to the fewest changes of any Rugby Championship team this weekend after narrowly falling 20-16 to the All Blacks last week.

Julian Montoya comes into the hooker berth in place of Agustin Creevy, who did not travel with the squad to Australia due to a shoulder strain. Creevy’s injury means young Jaguares hooker Santiago Socino could make his debut off the bench.

In the back row, Tomas Lezana comes into the side for Marcos Kremer whilst Toulon-based Facundo Isa will make his first appearance for Argentina since 2016.

Exeter Chiefs wing Santiago Cordero also returns to the Pumas, having not represented the side in 2017. Both Cordero and Isa were victims of the Argentina selection policy which favoured Jaguares players.

To accommodate for Cordero, Matias Moroni moves from the wing to the midfield in place of Matias Orlando, who drops to the bench. The final changes sees Joaquin Tuculet take Emiliano Boffellis’s place at fullback. Tuculet was Argentina’s first-choice 15 last year but spent a large portion of 2019 out with injury.

Argentina pushed the All Blacks right until the 80th minute last weekend and will be looking to earn a rare away victory over the Wallabies, who were easily dealt to by the Springboks in South Africa.

Last year, Argentina won the first match between the two sides in the Gold Coast. They then built up a 31-7 lead at half-time in the return fixture but somehow snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, eventually succumbing 45-34. This year’s Pumas squad looks better drilled whilst the Australians appear to have gone backwards.

Australia also named their squad today.

Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet, Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De la Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli, Facundo Isa, Tomas Lezana, Pablo Matera (c), Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Juan Figallo, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Reserves: Santiago Socini, Mayco Vivas, Ramiro Herrera, Matias Alemanno, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Felipe Ezcurra, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Matias Orlando.