Contepomi makes two changes for All Blacks clash

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has made two changes to his starting XV for their Rugby Championship rematch with the All Blacks in Buenos Aires on Saturday night.

There is one alteration to both the forward pack and backline as Los Pumas look to respond from a Round 1 defeat in Cordoba that saw them go down to a 41-24 loss.

A scorer last week, Rodrigo Isgró, is missing from the matchday 23 entirely and has been replaced by Mateo Carreras, with Bautista Delguy swapping wings in the move.

The other tweak to Contepomi’s XV sees Juan Martin Gonzalez promoted from bench duty in place of Marco Kremer in a straight swap from last week’s opening meeting.

Up front it’s the same front-row of Mayco Vivas and Pedro Delgado either side of hooker and captain Julián Montoya with Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo the two locks.

Kremer is set to emerge off the bench alongside Ignacio Ruiz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Simón Benítez Cruz, Santiago Carreras and Justo Piccardo.

It will be the eighth confrontation between the two teams at the stadium in Buenos Aires and will be the last of the year for Los Pumas on Argentine soil. Their Rugby Championship tour will continue in Townsville, Sydney, Durban and London.

A fact to highlight is that on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the UAR Foundation, Los Pumas will wear shirts with numbers specially designed to commemorate a decade of work by the foundation, focused on providing assistance to players who suffered serious and minor injuries on the field.

Meanwhile, All Black hooker Codie Taylor will become the 14th All Black to reach 100 Test caps alongside debutante Simon Parker when they run out against Argentina in Buenos Aires for the second round of the Rugby Championship.

Taylor (34), who made his Test debut against Argentina in Christchurch in 2015, will bring up his milestone alongside 25-year-old Chiefs and Northland loose forward Parker, who will start at No 8. Ardie Savea shifts to the openside flank in the only change to the team that started in Córdoba.

Levin born Taylor (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Muaūpoko, Ngāti Toa) is just the second All Blacks hooker to reach 100 Tests after Keven Mealamu who played 133 Tests between 2002-2015.

All Black head coach Scott Robertson said it was important the team’s performance was reflective of the mana Taylor had put into the jersey.

“Codie is a great All Black. He carries a huge amount of mana in our group and it’s important we put out a performance that makes him and his whānau proud in his 100th Test. The way he carries himself and the example he sets are testament to him as a person and he will front this week in the same way he has for the past 99 Tests.

“Equally, it’s a special day for Simon and his family. He’s earned his selection through performance and consistency. He’s a big, physical man, and he’s ready to make an impact.”

There are five changes in total from the match day 23 that beat the Pumas 41-24 in Córdoba, with prop Tamaiti Williams and loose forward Wallace Sititi returning from knee and ankle injuries respectively to take their place in the reserves.

Lock Josh Lord comes into the squad for Patrick Tuipulotu, who was ruled out due to a minor facial fracture, while midfielder Quinn Tupaea will provide impact from the reserves.

“All of the players who have come into the squad have worked really hard and earned their place at training and it’s great to have Tamaiti and Wallace back in the mix. Our bench will bring energy and impact to the battle.”

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Los Pumas starting XV: 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras; 10 Tomas Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia; 8 Joaquin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera; 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina; 3 Pedro Delgardo, 2 Julian Montoya (capt), 1 Mayco Vivas. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Joel Sclavi, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Simon Benitez Cruz, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.

All Black stating XV: 15 Will Jordan, 14 Sevu Reece, 13 Billy Proctor, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Rieko Ioane; 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Cortez Ratima; 8 Simon Parker, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Tupou Vaa’i; 5 Fabian Holland, 4 Scott Barrett (capt); Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor, 1 Ethan de Groot. Replacements: 16 Samisoni Taukei’aho, 17 Tamaiti Williams, 18 Pasilio Tosi, 19 Josh Lord, 20 Wallace Sititi, 21 Finlay Christie, 22 Quinn Tupaea, 23 Damian McKenzie.