Rugby Championship: Argentina v Australia preview
Last Updated: 26/07/15 1:38am
Seven changes have been made to the Australia side for their Rugby Championship encounter against Argentina in Mendoza on Saturday.
Alterations were necessary due to there being three players on the injury list this week, but there is also an element of rotation in Michael Cheika's squad ahead of the all-important World Cup later in the year.
Bernard Foley, last year's preferred choice in the No 10 jersey, makes a return to the team after Quade Cooper started in Australia's 24-20 victory over South Africa in Brisbane.
Foley's half-back partner will be Nick Phipps, who comes into the side for the injured Will Genia. Returning veteran Matt Gituea was another casualty of the Springbok clash, and he is replaced by Matt Toomua.
Toomua came on as a substitute last week and the Brumbies back impressed with his form.
The third injury concern for Cheika is Rob Horne, who aggravated a calf problem against South Africa. Horne's place has been taken by Joe Tomane, who scored a hat-trick for the Brumbies in their Super Rugby knock-out game against the Stormers in June.
Swapping roles will be Michael Hooper and David Pocock, with the latter starting and last's week's No 7 Hooper taking to the bench this Saturday. Greg Holmes, who last week made his return to international rugby following eight years on the sidelines, did enough to be promoted from the bench to the starting side this week.
Comeback
Meanwhile, Argentina have made seven changes of their own, with winger Gonzalo Camacho making his international comeback after three shoulder operations in two years.
Five of the changes made to Daniel Hourcade's team are in the backs, with Nicolas Sanchez and winger Santiago Cordero the only two to survive the coach's axe following last week's 39-18 loss to the All Blacks.
In the pack, Tomas Lavanini comes in for Guido Petti in the second row and Javier Ortega Desio replaces veteran Juan Manuel Leguizamon in the No 6 jersey.
Australia have faced Argentina 23 times over the years, with the Pumas claiming five victories, but it was last year's 21-17 win in Mendoza that was the most significant, as it was the first Rugby Championship victory for Argentina since joining the competition in 2012.
Argentina: 15 Santiago Cordero, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 1 Marcos Ayerza, 2 Agustin Creevy (c), 3 Ramiro Herrera, 4 Manuel Carizza, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 8 Facundo Isa.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Matias Diaz, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Leonardo Senatore, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Joe Tomane, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 1 James Slipper, 2 Stephen Moore (c), 3 Greg Holmes, 4 Will Skelton, 5 Rob Simmons, 6 Scott Fardy, 7 David Pocock, 8 Ben McCalman.
Replacements: 16 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 17 Scott Sio, 18 Sekope Kepu, 19 Dean Mumm, 20 Michael Hooper, 21 Nic White, 22 Quade Cooper, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Watch Argentina v Australia live on Sky Sports 3 HD on Saturday night from 11.30pm.