BUENOS AIRES, Sept 19 (Askume) – Argentina made three changes to their forward line-up for Saturday’s Rugby Championship match against South Africa in Santiago del Estero to strengthen their bid to win this year’s championship of the southern hemisphere sport.
Pedro Rubiolo has returned to the second row after missing the 67-27 win over Australia in Santa Fe two weeks ago with a head injury. Franco Molina will now partner him, while veterans Tomas Lavanini and Guido Petit will be absent.
The Argentina Rugby Union announced on Thursday that Petty would be named as the replacement.
Joaquin Oviedo, who was rewarded for coming off the bench against the Wallabies and scoring two tries in Santa Fe, will play at number eight with Juan Martin Gonzalez coming off the bench.
26-year-old Pedro Delgado was on the bench for the first time due to not playing for the team, replacing Eduardo Bello, who played the last game against the Cougars, having torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during the Australia game.
Veteran winger Mathias Moroney, who has missed the last two Rugby Championship games with a hip injury, is also on the bench.
Argentina trail leaders South Africa by eight points and must win on Saturday to have any chance of overtaking the Springboks, who have won all four of their games at this year’s tournament.
Argentina have 10 points after beating Australia and New Zealand, but also lost to the All Blacks and Wallabies respectively.
Saturday’s test at the Estadio Unico do Sul Madre will be the second time Pumas play in Santiago del Estero, 1,042 kilometres northwest of Buenos Aires.
Two years ago they beat Scotland 34-31.
Team: 15-Juan Cruz Maria, 14-Bautista Delgi, 13-Lucio Sindi, 12-Santiago Chocobares, 11-Mateo Ca Lleras, 10-Thomas Albonos, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 8-Joaquin Oviedo, 7-Marcos Kramer, 6-Pablo Ma Tierra, 5-Pedro Rubiolo, 4-Franco Molina, 3-Joel Sclavi, 2-Julian Montoya (Captain), 1-Thomas Gallo
Substitutes: 16-Ignacio Ruiz, 17-Ignacio Calles, 18-Pedro Delgado, 19-Guido Petti, 20-Juan Martin Gan Soares, 21-Gonzalez, 22-Santiago Carreras, 23-Matias Moroni.
