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The strongest team in the Americas, Argentina, is to play for the first time in 2017. Saturday’s home international against England will see the first of three tests between the two this year. Argentina and England are fierce rivals but there is now a crucial added element. The teams are to square off in Rugby World Cup 2019. Argentina and England will be joined by France, Americas 1 and Oceania 2 in the dreaded Pool of Death. With no fixtures to be played between the sides in 2018 or 2019 this year’s matches have added value.
Argentine Head Coach Daniel Hourcade has awarded a first cap to Emiliano Boffelli. With Santiago Cordero and Manuel Montero injured, Boffelli is to be joined by Matías Moroni as the wings. Hourcade will have running power in midfield as Jerónimo de la Fuente and Matias Orlando start together. While this has been the regular combination for the Jaguares in Super Rugby, Hourcade has typically preferred another playmaker in the 12 shirt. Juan Martín Hernández will instead cover from the bench.
In the pack Enrique Pieretto has been named in the vital position of tighthead prop. Ramiro Herrera misses out completely while Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro will cover Pieretto. This is part of a strategy which sees an imposing Pumas forward pack. Tomás Lavanini and Matías Alemanno will start with the more mobile Guido Petti on the bench. Similarly Juan Manuel Leguizamón is to play No 8 with Leonardo Senatore providing cover.
Eddie Jones is without numerous players on British & Irish Lions duty. This has resulted in an unprecedented 10 debutantes in his 23-man team for San Juan. In the starting lineup Tom Curry, Alex Lozowski, Harry Williams, and Mark Wilson all start for the first time. The team does, nonetheless, have a number of seasoned veterans. This includes controversial captain Dylan Hartley. The New Zealand-born hooker will earn his 85th cap this weekend.
Jones also has regulars Mike Brown, Danny Care, George Ford, Joe Launchbury, and Jonny May all in his starting lineup. Of interest to the Americas is the involvement of Marland Yarde. From St. Lucia, Yarde will join Brown and May in a potent back three.
England are the team to beat. The Europeans are on a six-match winning streak over Los Pumas. The last Argentine win was at Salta in 2009. The most recent match was last November with England winning 27-14 in London. A win for Argentina would be a tremendous boost for the South Americans in the World Rankings. At present Argentina is 9th in the world, seven places below England. With the gap being almost 10 points a Pumas guarantees a rise to 8th or higher.
Los Jaguares have been a flop this year. Jones’ England defeated the Barbarians recently, doing so by playing attacking rugby. Combined this illustrates that Argentina’s task is tough even with England missing players to the Lions. Under immense pressure to deliver, Argentina have their work cut out for them but on paper have enough experience to come out on top.
ARGENTINA
1 Lucas Noguera Paz, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 3 Enrique Pieretto, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Emiliano Boffelli, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Matías Moroni, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Juan Martín Hernández, 23 Ramiro Moyano
ENGLAND
1 Ellis Genge, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt.), 3 Harry Williams, 4 Joe Launchbury, 5 Charlie Ewels, 6 Mark Wilson, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Nathan Hughes, 9 Danny Care, 10 George Ford, 11 Jonny May, 12 Alex Lozowski, 13 Henry Slade, 14 Marland Yarde, 15 Mike Brown
Replacements: 16 Jack Singleton, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Will Collier, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Donovan Armand, 21 Jack Maunder, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Denny Solomona
Date: Saturday, June 10
Venue: Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan
Kickoff: 16:15 local (15:15 ET)
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
Assistants: John Lacey (IRFU) & Egon Seconds (SARU)
TMO: Aaron Paterson (NZRU)
Broadcasts: BBC2
