Star Argentina No.10 Santiago Carreras has been dropped to the bench for the second TRC clash with the Wallabies and replaced by the man whose late error present the Wallabies with their one-point win in La Plata.
It will be the first time in three years that goal kicking whizz Carreras hasn’t been picked to start a TRC match in a surprise move from Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi.
Argentina’s Santiago Carreras. (Photo by Adam Pretty – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
In his place will be 27-year-old Tomás Albornoz, of Italian club Benetton Treviso, in his first start against a leading Test nation. Albornoz – whose only Test start was against Uruguay – conceded the penalty that allowed Ben Donaldson to boot the winning points on Sunday.
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“I understand that from the outside everything falls on one action, but for me the game has 80 minutes and I analyse it minute by minute,” Contepomi said at a press conference on Friday.
“The play was not a bad decision; he had a lot of courage in doing that. What needs to be improved is the execution, but when one does not put oneself in uncomfortable zones and does not take that type of attitude, one does not know how far one’s limits can go.
“Rather than limiting him, one must let him grow and take those risks. Let him accept the situations and get to know them.”
The last flyhalf who started a TRC game other than Carreras was Nicolás Sánchez, against New Zealand in 2021.
Contepomi made three other changes to the starting team. Guido Petti Pagadizábal and Tomás Lavanini come into the lock positions for Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo. Bautista Delguy will replace Santiago Cordero at right wing.
Veteran hooker Julián Montoya will become the fourth Puma to reach 100 international matches , after Agustín Creevy, Nicolás Sánchez and Pablo Matera.
“It is an honour for him, his family and the club. Reaching 100 games speaks volumes about his behaviour and his consistency. He is a very important reference,” said Contepomi.
Gonzalo Garcia keeps his place as backup scrumhalf after Lautaro Bazan Velez picked up an injury in the warm-up last Saturday.
Argentina surprised with a call-up this week for 35-year-old Tomas Cubelli, who looked to be the preferred cover for first choice Gonzalo Bertranou. But no sooner had Cubelli joined the camp he suffered a muscle strain.
Argentina and Australia have both lost two of their opening three matches in this year’s competition.
Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Delguy, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Replacements: Ignacio Ruiz, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Franco Molina, Joaquin Oviedo, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras.