Argentina turn to rookies for Scotland battle
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Centre Bautista Ezcurra will win his first Argentina cap when he plays against Scotland Saturday in a one-off Test at Estadio Centenario in Resistencia.
His selection ahead of Jeronimo de la Fuente is among six changes – one enforced – to the side outplayed 12-30 by Wales in Santa Fe last weekend.
Argentina also suffered a heavy loss to Wales in the first of two Tests, leaving them needing to defeat Scotland to avoid a mid-season whitewash.
Tarde de gym para @lospumas en Chaco.#ARGvSCO #JugamosTodos pic.twitter.com/oqLauZzeqN
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) June 19, 2018
In the other backline alteration, wing Sebastian Cancelliere gets a first start for the Pumas in place of injured Ramiro Moyano.
Among the forwards, coach Daniel Hourcade has altered the front, second and back rows for his final match in charge after a poor two-season run led him to quit.
Loosehead Javier Diaz replaces Santiago Garcia Botta, lock Matias Alemanno takes over from Tomas Lavanini and flank Tomas Lezana comes in for Marcos Kremer.
At No.8, veteran Leonardo Senatore gets the nod ahead of Javier Ortega Desio for his first appearance of the June Tests.
In earlier tour matches, Scotland walloped Canada 48-10 before suffering a shock 29-30 defeat by the United States.
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Javier Diaz
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia
Date: Saturday, June 23
Venue: Estadio Centenario, Resistencia
Kick-off: 16:40 (20:40 UK time or Scotland time, 19:40 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
Agence France-Presse
