Rugby Championship: Argentina searching for overdue win over Australia on the Gold Coast
Last Updated: 12/09/14 10:09am
Argentina have made two changes to their back-line as they go in search of a first win in Australia since 1984 on the Gold Coast on Saturday.
After pushing New Zealand hard in Napier last weekend, Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade has brought in wingers Juan Imhoff and Manuel Montero in for Horacio Agulla and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.
And Hourcade admits that his selections this Rugby Championship have been all about building toward the 2015 World Cup.
"We want to give opportunities and minutes to all in the squad in a process that ends with the World Cup 2015," revealed head coach Hourcade.
Palu out
"We have to keep the good things we have done and then correct the things that we didn't do well, like the match against New Zealand."
Australia have handed Ben McCalman the No 8 jersey as they seek to follow up last week’s nail-biting 24-23 win over South Africa with victory over Argentina in Queensland.
McCalman replaces Wycliff Palu, who has been ruled out due to concussion protocols, as one of three changes to the side that beat South Africa.
Injury to Adam Ashley-Cooper means Peter Betham starts on the win, while fit-again Tatafu Polota-Nau comes in at hooker to win his 50th cap.
Australia: 15 Israel Folau, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Matt Toomua, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Ben McCalman, 7 Michael Hooper (c), 6 Scott Fardy, 5 Rob Simmons, 4 Sam Carter, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 James Slipper.
Replacements: 16 James Hanson, 17 Pek Cowan, 18 Ben Alexander, 19 James Horwill, 20 Scott Higginbotham, 21 Matt Hodgson, 22 Nic White, 23 Kurtley Beale.
Argentina: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Juan Imhoff, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Mariano Galarza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Matías Cortese, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Benjamin Macome, 20 Rodrigo Báez, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 23 Lucas González Amorosino.