Injuries have forced Argentina to make significant changes to their backline for Saturday’s test against Italy in Udine, although the forward pack remains largely unchanged after coach Felipe Contepomi named his team on Thursday. In the backline, only flyhalf Tomas Albornoz and wing Rodrigo Isgro retain their spots from the starting XV that lost 48-7 to South Africa in the Rugby Championship decider in September. Centre Santiago Chocobares is sidelined due to a knee injury, and fullback Mateo Carreras is out with a calf strain.
Toulouse and La Rochelle props Francisco Gomez Kodela and Joel Sclavi are unavailable due to end-of-season commitments with their French clubs, while Bordeaux-Begles lock Guido Petti is out with a neck injury. The front row remains unchanged, with Benetton’s Thomas Gallo and Eduardo Bello joining captain and hooker Julian Montoya.
Benetton center Edoardo Padovani is the other new starter, joining fellow Benetton center Juan Ignacio Brex in a back three, providing a wealth of pace and direct running. Brex was a late inclusion in the squad after playing for Argentina Under-20s and Under-18s but has made the most of the opportunity and is one of nine Benetton starters in the side to take on the Springboks.
In the second row, Franco Molina replaces Marcelo Bosch in a move that gives Benetton teammate Matias Alemanno double coverage of the second row. The front-row bench also includes the uncapped duo of Pau prop Ignacio Calles and Zebre flanker Santiago Grondona.
The Pumas need a win to win their first Rugby Championship title since 2019. They will finish the tournament as champions if they defeat the Springboks by a points margin and avoid defeat by Australia in their final match.
All Blacks coach Kieran Crowley has made two changes to his starting lineup for the clash with the Pumas. He has brought in Blues wing Caleb Clarke at right wing and Will Jordan at fullback. Both players played off the bench in last week’s 29-20 victory over France in the opener.
The All Blacks will aim for a third straight win in the series against Argentina and will need to secure at least a bonus-point victory to guarantee the title.
Both teams are level on points in the series at 1-1, and the winner will have a chance to increase their lead to the top of the world rankings. The All Blacks are currently in second place, just behind Ireland, and the result against Argentina will significantly impact how they rank on the global stage over the next two years. The All Blacks will have a hefty home advantage in the upcoming clash with Argentina, as they have never lost at the All Blacks Stadium. The All Blacks are the favorites, but the game will be a close affair. In the previous meeting between the sides, the All Blacks ended with a 25-13 win in June 2017. The two sides meet again at Twickenham on May 6. Follow live streaming of the test on the All Blacks website.
