Head Coach Michael Cheika has named his Argentina team to play England, as Los Pumas start their 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign in Pool D this Saturday. Amongst the squad there are 10 players set to make their first appearance at the Rugby World Cup, with Cheika keeping the core group of his squad who played in the 2023 Rugby Championship campaign.
Scroll down to see the Argentina squad to play England this Saturday in Pool D
Argentina recorded a narrow 34-31 victory over Eddie Jones’ Wallabies during the Summer to retain the Puma Trophy, and took two defeats to the Springboks, one of which being a narrow one point loss in Johannesburg (22-21). Six of Argentina’s starting line-up will be running out for their Rugby World Cup debut, with the remaining four debutants on the bench.
Props Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gomez Kodela, back row Juan Martin Gonzalez, centres Santiago Chocobares and Lucio Cinti and winger Matteo Carreras all make their maiden Rugby World Cup starts against England. Joel Sclavi, Eduardo Bello, Pedro Rubiolo and Lautaro Bazán Vélez will look to make their mark from the substitutes bench.
Argentina boast a squad decorated with Premiership Rugby talents, most notably their captain Julian Montoya. The Leicester Tigers man will lead his side out at the Stade de Marseille, with England Head Coach Steve Borthwick more than familiar with the hooker from their time spent together at Welford Road. Montoya is set for a reunion with his 2022 Premiership title winning teammates, as he packs down the scrum against Ellis Genge and Dan Cole.
Argentina team to play England, in Rugby World Cup Pool D
1. Thomas Gallo (17 caps)
2. Julián Montoya (captain; 89 caps)
3. Francisco Gomez Kodela (31 caps; no tests at RWC)
4. Matías Alemanno (87 caps; 10 tests at RWC)
5. Tomás Lavanini (82 caps; 9 tests at RWC)
6. Pablo Matera (95 caps; 10 tests at RWC)
7. Marcos Kremer (57 caps; 4 tests at RWC)
8. Juan Martín Gonzalez (24 caps; no tests at RWC)
9. Gonzalo Bertranou (53 caps; 1 test at RWC)
10. Santiago Carreras (35 caps; 4 tests at RWC)
11. Mateo Carreras (11 caps; no tests at RWC)
12. Santiago Chocobares (14 caps; no tests at RWC)
13. Lucio Cinti (16 caps; no tests at RWC)
14. Emiliano Boffelli (53 caps; 3 tests at RWC)
15. Juan Cruz Mallia (26 caps; 1 test at RWC)
REPLACEMENTS
16. Agustín Creevy (101 caps; 15 tests at RWC)
17. Joel Sclavi (12 caps; no tests at RWC)
18. Eduardo Bello (14 caps; no tests at RWC)
19. Guido Petti (75 caps; 10 tests at RWC)
20. Pedro Rubiolo (5 caps; no tests at RWC)
21. Rodrigo Bruni (21 caps; 1 test at RWC)
22. Lautaro Bazan Velez (7 caps; no tests at RWC)
23. Matías Moroni (74 caps; 8 tests at RWC)