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Seven changes for Argentina as Cheika reacts to Hamilton hammering
Michael Cheika has made seven changes to his Argentina side as they look to remain in The Rugby Championship title race with this Saturday’s home game in Buenos Aires versus the Springboks. The Pumas shook up the rugby world with their round three win over the All Blacks in Christchurch but they were well beaten the following week in the Hamilton rematch, losing 53-3.
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That defeat has now resulted in Argentina coach Cheika making three alterations to his back line, two to his front row and another two elsewhere in this pack for the visit of South Africa, a round five encounter that will be followed by the tournament-ending round six match on September 24 in Durban.
Jeronimo de la Fuenta has been chosen in the midfield for the benched Matias Moroni, Lucio Cinti takes over on the left wing from Santiago Cordero while Gonzalo Bertranou is at scrum-half in place of Tomas Cubelli, the second of the back line starters in Hamilton to drop to the replacements.
Props Eduardo Bello and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro respectively take over from Joel Sclavi and Thomas Gallo, who both drop to the bench. Bello for Sclavi is a straight swap but the demotion of Gallo to the bench sees the previous No17 Mayco Vivas drop out.
Elsewhere in the pack, Juan Martin Gonzalez is at blindside instead of Santiago Grondona while Matias Alemanno is at lock in place of Guido Petti, who is held in reserve this weekend. A notable change on the bench is the inclusion of veteran hooker Agustin Creevy. He comes in for Santiago Socino after featuring for London Irish in last weekend’s Gallagher Premiership opening round win over Worcester.
Argentina are currently fourth in the four-team tournament, but they are just five points behind the leaders New Zealand who have played a game more following their dramatic win on Thursday away to Australia.
Argentina (vs South Africa, Saturday)
15. Juan Cruz Mallia; 14. Emiliano Boffelli, 13. Matias Orlando, 12. Jeronimo de la Fuenta; 11. Lucio Cinti; 10. Santiago Carreras, 9. Gonzalo Bertranou; 8. Pablo Matera, 7. Marcos Kremer, 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez, 5. Tomas Lavanini, 4. Matias Alemanno, 3. Eduardo Bello, 2. Julian Montoya (capt), 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Replacements: 16. Agustin Creevy, 17. Thomas Gallo, 18. Joel Sclavi, 19. Guido Petti, 20. Rodrigo Bruni, 21. Tomas Cubelli, 22. Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23. Matias Moroni.
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Comments on RugbyPass
This team does not beat the ABs sadly
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to comments