Los Pumas keep changes to a minimum after historic victory over All Blacks
Argentina coach Mario Ledesma retained the same starting line-up that upset the All Blacks for the Pumas’ Tri-Nations clash with the Wallabies in Newcastle on Saturday night.
Playing their first test in more than a year, the Pumas posted their first victory over New Zealand with a 10-point victory last Saturday at Sydney’s Bankwest Stadium.
Ledesma kept his starting XV, including five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez, who was responsible for all of their 25 points.
In changes to the reserves, Santiago Socino replaces Facundo Bosch as back-up hooker to Julian Montoya, while Facundo Isa was named as back-row cover instead of Tomas Lezana.
Emiliano Boffelli replaces rookie back Lucio Cinti on the bench.
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A victory for either side on Saturday will move them above the All Blacks to the top of the Tri-Nation standings, with Argentina last beating the Wallabies in 2018 on the Gold Coast.
Argentina: Santiago Carreras, Bautista Delguy, Matias Orlando, Santiago C hocobares, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli, Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera (c), Matias Alemanno, Guido Petti, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo. Reserves: Santiago Socino, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Grondona, Facundo Isa, Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Cordero.
– Melissa Woods
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