Coach Felipe Contemponi has revealed the lineup for the upcoming Test match in Wellington. After a series of matches in July where Los Pumas showed improvement and secured two wins out of three, they are gearing up for the Rugby Championship, which is considered the most important event of the year.
The national team will face the All Blacks in New Zealand, with the first match scheduled for Saturday, August 10 at Sky Stadium in Wellington. The team, led by Felipe Contepomi, arrived in the New Zealand capital on August 4 and have been preparing at Porirua Park.
This upcoming match will mark the 22nd time these two teams meet in the Rugby Championship and the 42nd overall. Los Pumas have emerged victorious against the All Blacks twice in history, with notable wins in Parramatta, Sydney in 2020, and Christchurch in 2022.
Key players who have faced the All Blacks the most include Pablo Matera and Nicolás Sánchez, each with 16 matches, followed by captain Julián Montoya and Matías Alemanno with 15 matches. In terms of try-scorers, Emiliano Boffelli leads with four tries, followed by Agustín Creevy and Nicolás Sánchez with three each.
Los Pumas have a history of playing in Wellington, with five matches against the All Blacks in the city. While their last encounter in 2012 resulted in a defeat, one of the most memorable matches in the city was against Scotland during the 2011 World Cup, where Argentina secured a 13-12 victory.
In the upcoming match, three players who did not participate in the July matches will return to the starting XV, including Juan Martín González, Juan Cruz Mallía, and Lucio Cinti. Additionally, three players will make a comeback in the replacements, namely Agustín Creevy, Joel Sclavi, and Tomás Lavanini.
Efraín Elías, a rising player who recently captained Los Pumitas (Under 20s) and received his first call-up to the national team, will be on the substitutes’ bench. If he gets the chance to play, it will mark his debut for Los Pumas.
With captain Julián Montoya absent from the lineup, Pablo Matera will take on the role of captain for the upcoming match against New Zealand.
The lineup for Los Pumas to face New Zealand at Sky Stadium, Wellington is as follows:
1. GALLO, Thomas (26 caps)
2. RUIZ, Ignacio (10 caps)
3. BELLO, Eduardo (24 caps)
4. MOLINA, Franco (3 caps)
5. RUBIOLO, Pedro (12 caps)
6. MATERA, Pablo (101 caps) – Captain
7. KREMER, Marcos (67 caps) – Vice-captain
8. GONZALEZ, Juan Martin (31 caps)
9. BERTRANOU, Gonzalo (60 caps)
10. CARRERAS, Santiago (45 caps)
11. CARRERAS, Mateo (20 caps)
12. CHOCOBARES, Santiago (21 caps)
13. CINTI, Lucio (23 caps)
14. MORONI, Matias (82 caps)
15. MALLÍA, Juan Cruz (33 caps) – Vice-captain
Replacements:
16. CREEVY, Agustin (108 caps)
17. VIVAS, Mayco (24 caps)
18. SCLAVI, Joel (18 caps)
19. LAVANINI, Tomás (86 caps)
20. ELIAS, Ephraim (0 caps)
21. OVIEDO, Joaquín (5 caps)
22. BAZAN VELEZ, Lautaro (15 caps)
23. ALBORNOZ, Tomas (8 caps)