U20’s Championship Preview – Argentina vs Australia

The 2018 World Rugby U20’s Championship concludes on Sunday. Battling it out for 5th position will be Argentina vs Australia, a fixture certain to feature future Rugby Championship match-ups at the senior level.

Both Argentina and Australia earned the right to play in the 5th Place Final by virtue of winning their respective Semi Finals. Argentina put on their best performance of the tournament to down Wales while Australia toppled Italy.

For the 5th Place Final Argentina goes into the match with five changes from Wales. Salvador Ochoa returns in place of Ignacio Gandini, Santiago Grondona for Juan Ignacio Molina, and Bautista Pedemonte for Santiago Ruiz in the forwards.

In the backs there are to be starts for Santiago Chocobares, and Leopoldo Herrera. They are back in the team replacing Agustín Segura, and Pablo Avellaneda respectively.

The Junior Wallabies have gone for four changes. Of those one is mandatory with Michael Wood suspended due to being red carded in the win over Italy. His spot at flanker will be taken by Rory Suttor.

In addition to Suttor there is also a different starting named at no 8. Earning his place in the team is Josh Kemeny who takes over from Pat Tafa.

In the backs Australia have dropped Jordan Petaia and Matthew McTaggart. Their places in the team instead go to Mack Hansen and Isiah Latu.

Australia enter the match as favorites. They do so based on their consistency throughout the 2018 Junior World Championship. Los Pumitas had good wins over Scotland and Wales but were no match for England and were also beaten by Italy.

ARGENTINA
1 Rodrigo Martínez, 2 Leonel Oviedo, 3 Lucio Sordoni, 4 Salvador Ochoa, 5 Lucas Paulos, 6 Joaquín de la Vega (capt.), 7 Santiago Grondona, 8 Bautista Pedemonte, 9 Manuel Nogues, 10 Joaquín de la Vega Mendia, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Juan Pablo Castro, 14 Leopoldo Herrera, 15 Santiago Carreras

Replacements: 16 Agustín Milet, 17 Agustín Mansilla, 18 Mayco Vivas, 19 Ignacio Gandini, 20 Santiago Ruiz, 21 Gonzalo García, 22 Juan Bautista Daireaux, 23 Pablo Avellaneda

AUSTRALIA
1 Harry Hoopert, 2 Efi Ma’afu, 3 Tom Ross, 4 Angus Blyth, 5 Harry Hockings, 6 Rory Suttor, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Josh Kemeny, 9 Ryan Lonergan (capt.), 10 Hamish Stewart, 11 Mack Hansen, 12 Bayley Kuenzle, 13 Semisi Tupou, 14 Isiah Latu, 15 Lawson Creighton

Replacements: 16 Sama Malolo, 17 George Francis, 18 Charlie Hancock, 19 Esei Ha’angana, 20 Pat Tafa, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Isaac Lucas, 23 Will Harrison