After falling 28-24 in a tight third-round clash in Townsville, Argentina are determined to bounce back when they meet the Wallabies again at Allianz Stadium in Sydney this weekend.
Head coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to his starting XV as Los Pumas look to level the ledger in The Rugby Championship. In the pack, Guido Petti comes in for Franco Molina in the second row, while Joaquín Oviedo replaces Pablo Matera in the back row. Out wide, Rodrigo Isgró takes over from Bautista Delguy on the wing.
The bench also features fresh options, with Justo Piccardo and Ignacio Mendy included at the expense of Geronimo Prisciantelli and Benjamín Elizalde. Contepomi will again rely on the experience of captain Julián Montoya and vice-captain Juan Cruz Mallía to steer his side through what promises to be another bruising contest. Veteran Pablo Matera, who drops to the bench, remains a key figure in the leadership group.
With both sides eager to sharpen their Rugby Championship campaigns, Los Pumas know they must finish stronger than in Townsville, where they led for much of the contest before being edged late on by the Wallabies.
Argentina team to play Australia
1. Mayco Vivas (34)
2. Julián Montoya (111) (c)
3. Joel Sclavi (30)
4. Guido Petti (92)
5. Pedro Rubiolo (26)
6. Juan Martín González (45)
7. Marcos Kremer (76)
8. Joaquín Oviedo (16)
9. Gonzalo García (14)
10. Santiago Carreras (58)
11. Mateo Carreras (29)
12. Santiago Chocobares (30)
13. Lucio Cinti (37)
14. Rodrigo Isgró (10)
15. Juan Cruz Mallía (45) (vc)
Replacements:
16. Ignacio Ruiz (21)
17. Boris Wenger (1)
18. Francisco Coria Marchetti (4)
19. Franco Molina (15)
20. Pablo Matera (115) (vc)
21. Agustín Moyano (3)
22. Justo Piccardo (6)
23. Ignacio Mendy (3)
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