Pumas

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 14: Nicolás Sánchez of Argentina breaks free from Kwagga Smith of South Africa during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Pumas ring the changes ahead of second Bok battle

Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has made six changes to the Pumas matchday squad to face the Springboks this weekend.

Pumas

GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA – AUGUST 14: Nicolás Sánchez of Argentina breaks free from Kwagga Smith of South Africa during the Castle Lager Rugby Championship match between South Africa and Argentina at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on August 14, 2021 in Gqeberha, South Africa. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has made six changes to the Pumas matchday squad to face the Springboks this weekend.

The Pumas went down 32-12 in their Rugby Championship opener against the Springboks, but have refreshed their group ahead of the second bite at the cherry.

Ledesma has also made positional tweaks in the hopes of extracting an improved performance from his group.

Pumas ring the changes

Winger Ignacio Mendy has come into the starting lineup to make his Test debut against the Springboks at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Utility back Lucio Cinti is also in line to make his debut off the bench.

In the other changes to the backline Juan Cruz Mallía comes in at full-back and Domingo Miotti and Gonzalo Bertranou form a new halfback pairing.

Shuffling the pack

Among the pack, Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini form a fresh lock pairing to take on Lood de Jager and Marvin Orie. Guido Petti moves from lock to flank, partnering Pablo Matera and Rodrigo Bruni in the loose trio.

The Pumas front row remains unchanged.

South Africa vs Argentina team news: Pumas starting XV

Argentina: 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Ignacio Mendy, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Carreras, 10 Domingo Miotti, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro

Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Facundo Gigena, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Juan Martín González, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Lucio Cinti

Date: Saturday, August 21

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth

Kick-off: 17:05 local (16:05 BST, 15:05 GMT)

Referee: Karl Dickson (England)

Assistant Referees: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)

TMO: Tom Foley (England)

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