Argentina make two changes for Springboks

Argentina Pumas coach Daniel Hourcade has made two changes to their team to play South Africa’s Springboks in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Coach Hourcade took over from former Puma forward Santiago Phelan at the end of last year’s tournament so this will be Hourcade’s first Rugby Championship.

The Pumas have yet to win a match in the Rugby Championship and their best result was a home draw with South Africa in 2012.

Hourcade has brought in Horacio Agulla on the right wing replacing Juan Imhoff who is injured.

The other change to the side is Juan Martin Hernandez replacing Jeronimo de la Fuente at inside centre.

Agulla (51 caps) and Hernandez (44) are two of Argentina’s five most experienced players named in the side for Saturday.

The Pumas hve played five warm up matches for this year’s tournament including Tests in June against Ireland twice and Scotland.

Before leaving for South Africa the Pumas defeated French Top 14 club Grenoble 44-21 and 56-22 so they should be a much better prepared side for this year.

In 2013 the Pumas were captained by loose forward Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe but Augustin Creevy leads the side.

Argentina will have a team in Super Rugby in 2016 but from the current side only two players are based in Argentina.

Argentina

Joaquin Tuculet; Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martin Hernandez, Manuel Montero; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Pablo Matera; Tomas Lavanini, Mariano Galarza; Ramiro Herrera, Agustin Creevy (capt), Marcos Ayerza

Replacements: Matias Cortese, Lucas Noguera Paz, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matias Alemanno, Leonardo Senatore, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino