Argentina team to face New Zealand - 2025 Rugby Championship Round 1

Friday, 15 August 2025 at 09:31

byTom Sansom

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has named a powerful Los Pumas side to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship opener at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes in Córdoba on Saturday. The fixture marks the first time the All Blacks have played in Córdoba since 1976, and Contepomi’s men will look to repeat their famous win over New Zealand in Wellington from the 2024 opening round.

Los Pumas have made eight changes to the starting XV from that Wellington triumph, welcoming back Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy, Marcos Kremer and Juan Cruz Mallía after the quartet were rested in July following heavy workloads in France’s Top 14 competition.

Up front, Pedro Delgado makes his second Test start at tighthead prop, packing down alongside captain Julián Montoya and Mayco Vivas. Franco Molina partners Pedro Rubiolo in the second row, while the back row sees Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer flanking No.8 Joaquín Oviedo in a bruising combination.

The halves pairing of Gonzalo García and Tomás Albornoz will look to dictate play, with the explosive midfield of Chocobares and Lucio Cinti providing strike power. Out wide, Delguy joins Rodrigo Isgró on the wings, with Mallía starting at full-back.

On the bench, Argentina boast 317 Test caps between them — 37 more than New Zealand’s replacements — with experienced campaigners such as Guido Petti and Santiago Carreras ready to make an impact.

Contepomi said his squad had relished preparing for such a high-profile clash on home soil.

“We know the intensity and precision needed to beat the All Blacks, and the team has worked hard all week. Córdoba is a special venue for us, and we want to give the home fans something to cheer about.”

Argentina match-day 23 to play New Zealand

(Tests in brackets; * denotes debutant)

Starting XV

Mayco Vivas (31)
Julián Montoya (96) (c)
Pedro Delgado (1)
Franco Molina (2)
Pedro Rubiolo (25)
Pablo Matera (99)
Marcos Kremer (73)
Joaquín Oviedo (15)
Gonzalo García (9)
Tomás Albornoz (15)
Bautista Delguy (52)
Santiago Chocobares (30)
Lucio Cinti (35)
Rodrigo Isgró (6)
Juan Cruz Mallía (35)

Replacements
16. Ignacio Ruiz (17)
17. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (85)
18. Joel Sclavi (28)
19. Guido Petti (83)
20. Juan Martín González (38)
21. Simón Benítez Cruz (2)
22. Santiago Carreras (58)
23. Justo Piccardo (5)