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Pumas change seven for Bok rematch

Apart from the personnel alterations, coach Daniel Hourcade has made two positional switches as the Pumas seek to build on a stunning 37-25 win over the Springboks in Durban.

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It was the first triumph for Argentina over South Africa after 19 failed attempts since the countries first met in 1993 in Buenos Aires.

And it was the first Rugby Championship away victory for the South Americans after 10 losses in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa over four seasons.

Out of the Durban starting backline go right wing Horacio Agulla, centres Marcelo Bosch, injured Jerónimo De la Fuente and scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli.

They are replaced by Santiago Cordero, Matias Moroni, Nicolas Sanchez and Martin Landajo for the match at the 50,000-capacity Estadio Jose Amalfitani in a western suburb of the Argentine capital.

Veteran Hernández, who was outstanding at flyhalf last weekend, retreats to inside centre to accommodate Sanchez in the pivotal role.

Sanchez disappointed in Rugby Championship losses to New Zealand and Australia last month and his form will be closely monitored with the 2015 World Cup kick-off just over a month away.

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Among the forwards, lock Guido Petti Pagadizabal, flank Pablo Matera and No.8 Leonardo Senatore step down.

Into their places come Benjamin Macome, Tomas Lezana and France-based 64-Test veteran Jean Martin Fernandez Lobbe.

Juan Manuel Leguizamon, another long-serving warrior in the Pumas pack, moves from the flank to No.8 in a positional alteration.

While Hourcade is rotating with the World Cup in mind, he retained props Marcos Ayerza and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and hooker-cum-skipper Agustin Creevy, who tormented South Africa last weekend.

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The passionate Pumas dominated the scrums and breakdowns as South Africa suffered their most humiliating Test loss since a 0-49 meltdown in Australia nine years ago.

It is the final Test warm-up for both countries before naming 31-man World Cup squads with Argentina due to reveal theirs Sunday.

South Africa are in Pool B at the global rugby showcase with Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States, while Argentina are in Pool C alongside Georgia, Namibia, title-holders New Zealand and Tonga.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Martin Hernández, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Tomas Lezana, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Benjamín Macome, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Juan Pablo Socino, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Date: Saturday, August 15

Venue: Estadio Jose Amalfitani, Buenos Aires

Kick-off: 16.40 (21.40 SA Time, 19.40 GMT)

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

Agence France-Presse

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