Cheika makes five changes as Argentina look to upset the Springboks

Michael Cheika has announced an Argentina side to take on South Africa in Johannesburg on Saturday that shows five changes to the starting XV from the round two Rugby Championship win over Australia.

The Pumas bounced back from a heavy opening round home defeat to the All Blacks by pipping the Wallabies 34-31 in Sydney with a late score.

Twelve days on from that eye-opening away victory, Cheika has now unveiled an XV to take on the Springboks that has four changes in the backline and another in the pack. The sole alteration to the forwards sees Lucas Paulos promoted from the bench to start at lock in place of the absent Matias Alemanno.

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Grant Williams starting against Argentina

Springbok coach Jacques Nienaber on Grant Williams starting against Argentina

In the backline, Juan Cruz Mallia is at full-back in place of Emiliano Boffelli, and Juan Imhoff is on the left wing instead of Rodrigo Isgro with Mateo Carreras switching over to the right wing.

Santiago Chocobares is also at inside centre in place of Jeronimo de la Fuente, and Lautaro Bazan Velez is at scrum-half with Gonzalo Bertranou dropping to the bench.

¡Los 23 para cerrar el VISA Macro Rugby Championship! 🇦🇷

📆 Sábado 29/7
⏰ 12:05hs (hora argentina)
🆚 @Springboks
📍 Johannesburgo
📺 @ESPNargentina#SomosLosPumas | #MásPumasQueNunca pic.twitter.com/96pxPuu0H6

— Los Pumas (@lospumas) July 27, 2023

Third-place Argentina and South Africa in second go into the Championship finale with one win each from two outings, but the title race could be decided by kick-off time at Emirates Airline Park as the unbeaten leaders New Zealand play winless Australia in Melbourne in the day’s earlier match.

The Springboks named their team on Tuesday, an XV that contained nine changes from the team that lost 20-35 to New Zealand in Auckland.