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The official opening weekend of the June Internationals sees Argentina at home to Wales in San Juan. For Los Pumas it is a new beginning, a first test match for the year 2018 and an opportunity at build on the form of Los Jaguares in Super Rugby.
The match is the second of Wales’ three-match tour of the Americas. Wales took-on South Africa last Saturday in Washington, D.C. They did so with a team predominantly consisting of replacement players while South Africa’s side was closer to being a third-string Springboks team.
Daniel Hourcade has gone for a Mario Ledesma produced line-up. This sees Santiago García Botta, Agustín Creevy, and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro packing down int he front-row. Creevy leads the team while while Guido Petti, and Tomás Lavanini lock the scrum.
In the back-row Pablo Matera has recovered from injury to be named at flanker. Marcos Kremer and Javier Ortega Desio complete the starting pack. Ortega Desio will earn his 41st cap but his first in the position of No8.
Scrum-half sees Gonzalo Bertranou named ahead of Martín Landajo, another result of Ledesma. Nicolás Sánchez has overcome an injury scare to start at fly half.
In the mid-field Jerónimo de la Fuente, and Matías Orlando continue their Jaguares partnership while Ramiro Moyano, Bautista Delguy, and Emiliano Boffelli start in the back-three. For Delguy the match will mark his test debut. There are also two debutants on the bench. They are props Javier Díaz, and Santiago Medrano.
Coming off the 22-20 win in the USA Wales are well positioned. The team named by Head Coach Warren Gatland is stronger than that from Washington D.C. yet it continues to be below full-strength.
Captaining the side will be Cory Hill. The second-rower was an emergency call-up for the British & Irish Lions a year ago. Other notable starting forwards include 2016 Olympian James Davies and former English U20’s World Champion Ross Moriarty.
In the backs Wales have a highly dangerous halves parking of Gareth Davies and Rhys Patchell. Wales’ new center Hadleigh Parks also starts. The New Zealander made his debut for Wales last November, doing so precisely upon completing three-years of residency in Wales.
Parkes and Scarlets midfield teammate Scott Williams start together as the centers. Wales will also have the ever reliable Hallam Amos at fullback and one of rugby’s best wingers in recent times, George North playing on the right wing.
Despite not defeating Wales since 2012, Argentina go into the match as favorites. This is a reflection of the form of Los Jaguares, home advantage and Wales are missing regular names such as Toby Faletau, Leigh Halfpenny, Sam Warburton, and Liam Williams.
Wales have named a formidable backline but their contribution will depend a lot on the performance of the forwards. Argentina’s pack is notably more experienced.
[EDIT: Wyn Jones is a late withdrawal from the Wales team, replaced by Rob Evans.]
ARGENTINA
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Javier Díaz, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Tomás Lezana, 21 Martín Landajo, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Sebastián Cancelliere
WALES
1 Rob Evans, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Dillon Lewis, 4 Adam Beard, 5 Cory Hill (capt.), 6 Seb Davies, 7 James Davies, 8 Ross Moriarty, 9 Gareth Davies, 10 Rhys Patchell, 11 George North, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 13 Scott Williams, 14 Josh Adams, 15 Hallam Amos
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Josh Turnbull, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Gareth Anscombe, 23 Owen Watkin
Date: Saturday, June 9
Venue: Estadio del Bicentenario, San Juan
Kickoff: 16:40 local (12:40 Pacific, 15:40 Eastern)
Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistants: Jaco Peyper (SARU) & Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Broadcasts: ESPN, ESPN+, TSN Go
