Get Newsletter

Hourcade calls in the big guns

Argentina's starting XV at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday will contain 496 caps worth of experience, their second most experienced of this tournament after the 54-9 win over Georgia in their second Pool C match.

ADVERTISEMENT

Head coach Daniel Hourcade has made 10 changes from the team that beat Namibia. This is the most changes made to an Argentina side, except for the 11 made between the Tonga and Namibia matches, since the opening two games of the 2007 World Cup.

The whole front row changes, with the replacements from the Namibia game starting against Ireland and the Namibia game starters dropping to the bench. Tomas Lavinini comes in for Matias Alemanno in the second row, with the latter dropping to the bench.

There are also two changes in the back row, with Javier Ortega Desio out of the matchday 23 and Facundo Isa dropping to the bench, as Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Leonardo Senatore return.

In the backs, Juan Martin Hernandez reverts to inside centre to allow for the return of Nicolas Sanchez. Scrumhalf Martin Landajo and Matias Moroni retain their places, though Moroni moves to outside centre. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino drops to the bench.

Landajo will win his 50th cap and is the most used Pumas player under Hourcade.

Hernandez, Fernandez Lobbe and Marcos Ayerza all played in the 2007 bronze medal match. Fernandez Lobbe will play in his 15th World Cup match, putting him fourth in the all-time Argentina list for appearances while Agustin Creevy will make his 10th World Cup appearance.

ADVERTISEMENT

Juan Imhoff, currently the leading World Cup try-scoring Puma with five, can extend his record. Hernandez needs one more drop-goal to move into third in the all-time World Cup list.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Martin Hernandez, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo De La Fuente, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

Date: Sunday, October 18

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Kick-off: 13.00 (12.00 GMT, 09.00 Argentina Time)

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)

Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

@WorldRugby

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Chasing The Sun | Series 1 Episode 1

Fresh Starts | Episode 1 | Will Skelton

ABBIE WARD: A BUMP IN THE ROAD

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 9

James Cook | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

New Zealand victorious in TENSE final | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Men's Highlights

New Zealand crowned BACK-TO-BACK champions | Cathay/HSBC Sevens Day Three Women's Highlights

Japan Rugby League One | Bravelupus v Steelers | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment