Back: Juan Manuel Leguizamon
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made two changes to the starting XV that drew with South Africa for Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with New Zealand.
Classy loose forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon and fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez return to line-up for the match in Wellington.
Leguizamon replaces Alvaro Galindo in the back-row, with Hernandez, who returns from a groin injury, preferred to Nicolas Sanchez at fly-half.
Leguizamon missed both Tests against the Springboks but was part of the Pumas' starting XV that pushed the All Blacks hard in last year's World Cup quarter-final in Auckland before losing 33-10.
The starting XV boasts 408 Test caps. Phelan will confirm his bench for the clash on Thursday.
Argentina: 15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (c), 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Date: Saturday, September 8
Venue: Westpac Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 19.35 (07.35 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Comments
Manchesterlad says...
I agree with stumpy ..... even though the Argies will not bring the emotion from Mendoza, it will be closer than most people think
The AB's by no more than 10 pts will be a moral victory for Los Pumas & the game in La Plata will be La Revancha
Vamos Los Pumas carajo !!!
Posted 16:51 06th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Mekdave. Unique to the ABs it can be both a tight game and a hammering. As with their last game vs Arg and first test vs Ireland.
I think Arg have the best line up plus SirGs input. Plus Wellington is no Eden Pk. Could be a good chance and very close and yet still 21+ points difference.
Many teams think they can win it on fitness in the last 20 vs Arg. If ABs do that its their only way to fail. Many a team have been upset with this. But this is the best AB side as well as the best Arggie side: I guess 24 point win margin in a very tight game.
Posted 21:08 05th September 2012
UBA05 says...
Go tackling machine Roncero!!! Hehe the most prop-looking rugby player still running around. I'm an AB fan but will be in the Argentine corner for his one.
In reallity Nz are just too good,but here is to hoping for atleast a tight 60 minutes
Posted 18:03 05th September 2012
hellovanite says...
Tough for the first 20mins, ABs to score two tries in the last 15mins to take it away from a tiring Argentine pack..... or maybe not?
Posted 12:04 05th September 2012
amaboko says...
He should have sticked to Sanchez, way better than Hernandez. El Mago (nothing magical about him though) proved he was unfit for physical play while at Sharks. He will duck behind some forwards and leave space for Nonu and Carter. Both of them to score I think.
Posted 11:59 05th September 2012
lalby says...
ATG 77, you think easy, await the test match, and remember in La Plata 50.000 people will receive the ab's with a "friendly" reception....
Posted 22:21 04th September 2012
kennyisgay says...
They should've beaten the overrated boks but this is a much bigger beast. AB to thrash the poor pumas
Posted 22:01 04th September 2012
stumpy says...
I reckon closer than people expect. Would like to say that Argentina have a cracking back row! Their 6 is a giant beast who made some of the Boks look like pussycat, Lequizamon at 7 is a great all round ballplayer, and lets just say Fernandez Lobbe needs no introduction...
Posted 21:41 04th September 2012
atg77 says...
New Zealand by 30 points
Posted 15:23 04th September 2012
ouam says...
Hernandez was such a great fullback. It is a pity he insists to play FH.
Posted 11:44 04th September 2012
melkdave says...
I feel N.Sanchez at 10 would have offered more options myself espically with Herendez at 12 and S.Fernadez going to 13 .But thers no dought S.Phelan knows what his doing ,whitch atm is debatable for the SA coachs at least.Going to be a tight game i feel ,and not the hammering some people think it will be for the pumas,AB win most probably but by 10 maybe 15 at best imo
Posted 11:22 04th September 2012
sukkadoits says...
That is a very strong side that the All Blacks must pay true respect to doth they get punished
Posted 10:39 04th September 2012
PREEST says...
I expect a cracker of a game! ABs to win but I don't think it will be a sloggin' whatsoever.
Posted 08:33 04th September 2012