Wholesale changes to Los Pumas XV for final Rugby Championship clash

Contepomi has made no less than seven changes to the starting XV that were hammered 67-30 by the Springboks in Durban.

In the backline, Santiago Carreras starts at fullback and Juan Cruz Mallia at wing. Justo Piccardo is selected at No.13, replacing Lucio Cinti, and Bautista Delguy is on the right wing, replacing Rodrigo Isgro.

Simon Benitez Cruz replaces the injured Gonzalo Garcia with selected Geronimo Prisciantelli at flyhalf.

In the forwards, there's a milestone for captain Julian Montoya. The hooker will reach 52 caps as captain of Los Pumas, becoming the player with the most caps as a leader in the history of the national team. He is followed by the legendary Agustin Creevy with 51, Lisandro Arbizu with 48, Hugo Porta with 38, and Agustin Pichot with 31.

Lock duo Guido Petti and Pedro Rubiolo replace Franco Molina and Lucas Paulos, while Santiago Grondona comes in at No.8 for Joaquin Oviedo.

Los Pumas last played at Twickenham in 2022 where they edged hosts England 30-29, with Emiliano Boffelli kicking 20 points.

Los Pumas - 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Justo Piccardo, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Juan Cruz Mallia, 10 Geronimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simon Cruz Benitez, 8 Santiago Grondona, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas.

Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Juan Gonzalez, 21 Joaquín Oviedo, 22 Agustin Moyano, 23 Rodrigo Isgro.

READ MORE: URC: Stormers stalwart Dewaldt Duvenage to earn 100th cap against Ospreys