Contepomi makes four changes as Argentina seek to end three-game losing run against Australia

Felipe Contepomi has named a reshuffled Argentina side for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash with Australia in Mendoza, making four changes to the team beaten 27-21 by the Wallabies last weekend as Los Pumas attempt to end a run of three consecutive defeats.

The most notable alteration comes at fly-half, where Nicolás Roger earns only his second Test start in place of the omitted Geronimo Prisciantelli. Roger’s promotion triggers a positional reshuffle, with vice-captain Santi Carreras reverting to his natural club position of full-back.

In the pack, Contepomi has made three changes. Efraín Elias and Franco Molina are paired together in the second row, with Tomás Lavanini dropping to the bench and the experienced Guido Petti shifting from lock to flanker, replacing the dropped Benjamín Grondona. Pedro Delgado is preferred at tight-head prop over Francisco Moreno, partnering loose-head Boris Wenger.

The defeat to Australia last week also cost Argentina ground in the World Rugby Rankings, with Los Pumas slipping to eighth — below the Wallabies, who will host Rugby World Cup 2027.

With one year until that tournament, Contepomi has used the occasion to introduce uncapped talent to his matchday 23. Flanker Facundo Cardozo and outside back Mateo Soler have both been named among the replacements for the first time. Soler carries notable lineage — he is the son of former Argentina wing Facundo Soler, who earned 25 caps between 1996 and 2002.

New Zealand referee James Doleman takes charge of the fixture for the second time, having overseen Australia’s 20-19 victory over Argentina in Buenos Aires during the 2024 Rugby Championship.

Argentina XV: 15 Santiago Carreras; 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, 11 Ignacio Mendy; 10 Nicolás Roger, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz; 1 Boris Wenger, 2 Ignacio Ruiz, 3 Pedro Delgado, 4 Efraín Elias, 5 Franco Molina, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 7 Guido Petti, 8 Joaquín Moro.

Replacements: 16 Leonel Oviedo, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Moreno, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Juan Martín Scelzo, 21 Facundo Cardozo, 22 Gonzalo Bertranou, 23 Mateo Soler.