Coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to the Argentina starting XV to face New Zealand on Saturday in Auckland, including the return of skipper Julian Montoya.
Montoya, who missed last week’s win against the All Blacks in Wellington with a rib injury, reclaims the captaincy from flanker Pablo Matera and demotes hooker Ignacio Ruiz to the bench.
It means there is no room in the squad for 39-year-old Agustin Creevy, who scored a decisive late try as a replacement during the epic Rugby Championship clash.
Montoya said he vowed not to let Creevy down: “Of course ’Gus [Creevy] is an inspiration and he helped me throughout my career so I’m going to be grateful for that forever.”
TEAM: Cane recalled for rejigged All Blacks
“I have the opportunity to bring fresh legs and give everything for the team.”
Meanwhile, Glasgow prop Lucio Sordoni replaces Eduardo Bello while Perpignan No 8 forward Joaquin Oviedo is promoted from the bench, pushing Marcos Kremer to lock and Franco Molina to the bench.
Argentina – 15 Juan Mallia, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Marcos Kremer, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Subs: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Tomas Lavanini, 20 Franco Molina, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Tomas Albornoz, 23 Bautista Delguy.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Saeed Khan/AFP
The post Montoya in, Creevy out for Los Pumas appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
