Ayerza and Hernández to miss Springboks Test

Veteran Pumas Marcos Ayerza and Juan Martín Hernández will not face South Africa in today’s Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture in Buenos Aires. The pair have been ruled out with Daniel Hourcade forced into making late changes.

In place of Ayerza Hourcade has elevated Lucas Noguera Paz to the starting lineup while former Stade Français front-rower Santiago García Botta has been called up to the bench. Hernández’s late withdrawal sees Newcastle Falcons inside center Juan Pablo Socino called-up from the bench, to start. Santiago González Iglesias takes his spot among the reserves.

Both Ayerza and Hernández will be fit for the squad announcement set for next week when Hourcade confirms Argentina’s Rugby World Cup squad.

Today’s fixture marks the first time South Africa has played in Buenos Aires since 2005. Like the test from a decade ago, the teams will play today at Velez Sarsfeld Stadium.

Argentina
1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Agustín Creevy (Captain), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Benjamín Macome, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 6 Tomas Lezana, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Juan Imhoff, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 13 Matías Moroni, 14 Santiago Cordero, 15 Joaquín Tuculet

16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Lucas González Amorosino

Head Coach: Daniel Hourcade