Pumas make two changes for Wallabies clash

Tue, Sep 11, 2012, 2:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

Argentina have made two changes to their backline for Saturday night's Castrol EDGE Rugby Championship clash with the Qantas Wallabies at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

Pumas coach Santiago Phelan has dropped halfback Nicolas Vergallo and fullback Martin Rodriguez from the team which lost 21-5 to New Zealand and replaced them with Martin Landajo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino.

While the competition newcomers have failed to notch a maiden victory in the four-nation tournament, their forward pack has impressed against the might of the All Blacks and South Africa.

Wallabies coach Robbie Deans is extremely wary of a Pumas upset and is expecting a brutal forward battle.

Vice-captain Patricio Albacete, a stand-out in the Argentine second-row, will earn his 50th cap on Saturday night - lining up opposite Wallabies veteran Nathan Sharpe, who will skipper Australia in his 109th Test.

Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Gonzalo Camacho, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo; Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (capt), Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Julio Faras Cabello, Patricio Albacete, Manuel Carizza, Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Rodrigo Roncero.

Res: Agustin Creevy, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Leonardo Senatore, Toms Leonardi, Nicolas Vergallo, Martin Rodriguez, Juan Imhoff.

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