Pumas ring the changes for Rugby Champs finale

Argentinian coach Felipe Contepomi has indicated his side intend to try and win the Castle Lager Rugby Championship this weekend, making seven changes to the starting XV that beat the Springboks in Santiago del Estero last weekend.

The Pumas need to deny South Africa a bonus point and score three more tries than the home side in order to steal the Rugby Championship away from them, a feat that would be difficult on any day, but particularly in front of a sold-out partisan home crowd.

But Contepomi has rolled the dice with his selections and importantly shown that he will fight fire with fire as Tomas Lavanini comes back into the pack for Franco Molino, with Pedro Rubiolo moving to four lock for the clash.

Lavanini is one of the more accomplished fiery locks in world rugby and his duel with Eben Etzebeth on Saturday in the lineout will be one to watch.

Surprisingly, Contepomi dropped veteran flanker Pablo Matera for the match but included Saracens hardman Juan Martin Gonzalez in his place. With Marcos Kremer injured and unavailable to make the trio, Santiago Grondona starts in his place this week in a balanced loose trio.

Tomas Albornoz, who was man of the match last week, now has a new scrumhalf on his inside with Gonzalo Garcia taking the nine jersey while Matias Moroni has been elevated to outside centre after playing off the bench last weekend.

One of the more telling changes is the decision to include regular flyhalf Santiago Carreras at fullback over Juan Cruz Mallia, while Rodrigo Isgro comes in at right wing for Buatista Delguy. Mallia is named on the bench.

Argentina: Santiago Carreras, Rodrigo Isgro, Matias Moroni, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras; Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia; Joaquin Oviedo, Santiago Grondona, Juan Martin Gonzales, Tomas Lavanini, Pedro Ruibiolo, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo.

Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Ignacio Calles, Pedro Delgado, Franco Molina, Pablo Matera, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Lucio Cinti, Juan Cruz Mallia