Pumitas Named for Must Win Junior World Championship Match

Los Pumitas have been named for Tuesday’s must win Junior World Championship match. The South Americans will take-on Georgia in a 9th place play-off. A failure to win will see Argentina fighting for survival in the tournament.

The fixture is to be Los Pumitas’ fourth in the current tournament. The South Americans began strongly, downing Georgia in their first fixture. It was followed up by a last-gasp defeat by France and a crushing humiliation against South Africa.

The results meant Argentina missed out on the Semi Finals. Los Pumitas finished third in their pool, a highly disappointing outcome considering the team reached the Semi Finals a year ago.

In looking to bounce back Los Pumitas are a side featuring nine changes. Bautista Delguy takes over at fullback from Juan Pablo Castro. This sees Luciano González back starting on the left wing. They will join captain Tomás Malanos in the back-three.

In the mid-field Teo Castiglioni is recalled for Feliz Luna. Castiglioni will partner Facundo Ferrario in the centers. He will also reunite with Tomás Albornoz who is retained at fly half. Matías Sauze completes the starting backs at scrum half.

In the forwards there are further changes. The back-row is entirely changed with none of Nicolás Walker, Marcos Kremer or Bautista Stavile starting. The Super Rugby star, Kremer, will miss the match altogether. Juan Molina replaces Walker at 8 while Santiago Ruiz and Agustín Medrano are to be the flankers. Walker will be a replacement.

In the second-row Nahuel Milán and Franco Molina have been preferred. As such Milán retains his spot while Molina comes in for Lucas Paulos who drops to the bench.

Finally in the front-row it is all change. Santiago Pulella replaces Rodrigo Martínez at Loose Head prop, José Luis González starts at hooker with Leonel Oviedo dropped to the bench and Mayco Vivas comes in for Jerem[ias Tarter at Tight Head.

ARGENTINA
15 Bautista Delguy, 14 Tomás Malanos (Capt.), 13 Facundo Ferrario, 12 Teo Castiglioni, 11 Luciano González, 10 Tomás Albornoz, 9 Matías Sauze, 8 Juan Molina, 7 Santiago Ruiz, 6 Agustín Medrano, 5 Nahuel Milán, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Mayco Vivas, 2 José Luis González, 1 Santiago Pulella

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Rodrigo Martínez, 18 Alejandro Luna, 19 Lucas Paulos, 20 Nicolás Walker, 21 Gonzalo García, 22 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 23 Santiago Carreras