Argentina XV named to face Chile

Pablo Bouza has confirmed his team to play Chile at the Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan on Saturday. The starting lineup shows a whopping 10 changes the side that played to a 35-all draw against the US Eagles in Houston, with six more new names on the bench. Loosehead prop Roberto Tejerizo has been nominated to captain the team in place of Rodrigo Báez, who has departed to prepare for the Super Rugby season with Los Jaguares.

Axel Zapata and Enrique Pieretto join Tejerizo in the front row, with Pedro Ortega stepping in at lock in place of Ignacio Larrague. José Deheza is promoted to the run-on side in place of Baez, and Miguel Urtubey starts at the back of the scrum. Ignacio Calles replaces Gaspar Baldunciel as reserve hooker, and one of either Eduardo Bello or Facundo Gigena will take the place of Cristian Bartoloni as backup tighthead. Second row Ignacio Calas and no8 Santiago Portillo also join the replacements bench.

EDIT: Eduardo Bello has been confirmed as reserve tighthead in the no18 jersey

A pair of 19-year-olds will cover scrumhalf, with Lautaro Bazán pegged to start and Mauro Perotti his backup. Bautista Ezcurra leap-frogs Juan León Novillo into the flyhalf position, one of four Pumas 7s players injected into the backline, with a fifth – Axel Müller – among the reserves. Santiago Álvarez starts in the midfield, and the new wingers are Segundo Tuculet and Rodrigo Etchart.

EDIT: Juan Cappiello is a late addition to the group and will now wear no23

Argentina have never been defeated by Los Cóndores since their first meeting in 1936. The smallest margin of victory was an 18-16 win by an Argentina XV at Montevideo in November of 2000. Chile has announced a match-day squad but are yet to confirm a starting lineup.

The match will kick off at 6pm local, 4pm EST and will be broadcast live on ESPN3.

ARGENTINA XV
1 Roberto Tejerizo (capt.) 2 Axel Zapata 3 Enrique Pieretto 4 Marcos Kremer 5 Pedro Ortega 6 José Deheza 7 Lautaro Bavaro 8 Miguel Urtubey 9 Lautaro Bazán 10 Bautista Ezcurra 11 Segundo Tuculet 12 Joaquín Paz 13 Santiago Álvarez 14 Rodrigo Etchart 15 Pedro Mercerat

16 Ignacio Calles 17 Franco Brarda 18 Eduardo Bello 19 Ignacio Calas 20 Santiago Portillo 21 Mauro Perotti 22 Juan León Novillo 23 Juan Cappiello