Head coach Daniel Hourcade has named his Argentina side to take on New Zealand in Christchurch this weekend, featuring three players making their debut in the Rugby Championship. Lock Guido Petti, number eight Facundo Isa and wing Santiago Cordero – all under the age of 21 – get their first taste of the southern hemisphere’s premier international competition.
It is somewhat of an experimental line-up with a handful of more experienced players rested with the World Cup later this year in mind. Experienced lock Manuel Carriza, who plies his trade for the Stormers in South Africa, is given a recall while Nicolas Sanchez directs things from fly-half.
“It’s a team built around our previous thoughts,” Hourcade told reporters. “In other words, taking into consideration players who need a rest or are still not 100 percent because of their participation in the European season.
“That gives us a chance to give some younger players a run-out before the World Cup. They’ve earned their place on the pitch.”
Argentina are chasing two firsts in this game: their first win away from home in the Rugby Championship, and their first ever win over the All Blacks.
ARGENTINA TEAM TO PLAY NEW ZEALAND
15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Jeronimo De la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 5 Guido Petti, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Lucas Noguera, 18 Nahuel Chaparro Tetaz, 19 Benjamin Macome, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter. 