Victorious Pumas change 7 for Boks rematch

Argentina have made seven changes to the team that humiliated South Africa last weekend for a Test rematch in Buenos Aires Saturday.

Apart from the personnel alterations, coach Daniel Hourcade has made two positional switches as the Pumas seek to build on a stunning 37-25 win over the Springboks in Durban.

It was the first triumph for Argentina over South Africa after 19 failed attempts since the countries first met in 1993 in Buenos Aires.

And it was the first Rugby Championship away victory for the South Americans after 10 losses in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa over four seasons.

Out of the Durban starting backline go right winger Horacio Agulla, centres Marcelo Bosch and injured Jeronimo De la Fuente and scrum-half Tomas Cubelli.
They are replaced by Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Nicolas Sanchez and Martin Landajo for the match at the 50,000-capacity Estadio Jose Amalfitani in a western suburb of the Argentine capital.

Veteran Hernandez, who was outstanding at fly-half last weekend, retreats to inside centre to accommodate Sanchez in the pivotal role.

Sanchez disappointed in Rugby Championship losses to New Zealand and Australia last month and his form will be closely monitored with the 2015 Rugby World Cup kick-off just over a month away.

Among the forwards, lock Guido Petti Pagadizabal, flanker Pablo Matera and No. 8 Leonardo Senatore step down.

Into their places come Benjamin Macome, Tomas Lezana and France-based 64-Test veteran Jean Martin Fernandez Lobbe.
Juan Manuel Leguizamon, another long-serving warrior in the Pumas pack, moves from the flank to No. 8 in a positional alteration.

While Hourcade is rotating with the World Cup in mind, he retained props Marcos Ayerza and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and hooker-cum-skipper Agustin Creevy, who tormented South Africa last weekend.

The passionate Pumas dominated the scrums and breakdowns as South Africa suffered their most humiliating Test loss since a 49-0 meltdown in Australia nine years ago.

It is the final Test warm-up for both countries before naming 31-man World Cup squads with Argentina due to reveal theirs Sunday.

South Africa are in Pool B at the global rugby showcase with Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States, while Argentina are in Pool C alongside Georgia, Namibia, title-holders New Zealand and Tonga.

Team (15-1)

Joaquin Tuculet; Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, Tomas Lezana; Tomas Lavanini, Benjamín Macome; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustín Creevy (capt), Marcos Ayerza

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Matías Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Tomas Cubelli, Juan Pablo Socino, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino

Coach: Daniel Hourcade
Source: AFP