The 34-year-old centre is one of three changes to the side that ran in seven tries in a 54-20 win over Japan last weekend and is one of five players who were in the side that last beat Wales back in 2012. Former Cardiff Blues full back Joaquín Tuculet, half-back pairing Martín Landajo and Nicolas Sanchez and skipper Agustin Creevy are the other players who played in that 26-12 win in the Welsh capital.
The other changes to the side that romped to victory in Tokyo see Ramiro Moyano come in on the wing to replace last weekend’s two try hero Santiago Cordero, and Pablo Matera return to the back row. There are only seen survivors from the team that was beaten 40-6 in Cardiff three years ago.
“We have trained very well and we are really motivated to face a hard team that has had a lot of pressure after having a bad game last week,” said Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade.
“We suffered a huge defeat and this wonderful stadium three years ago and we can’t wait to play there again. It wasn’t a special moment for us i 2013 – it was a tough day for Argentinean rugby.
“After that tour we started as a new team and we are in the middle of that process now. We’ve seen a huge development in the players since then.”
The last time the Pumas played in Cardiff they lit up the 2015 Rugby World Cup with a magical quarter-final win over Ireland. Their 43-20 victory included 23 points from the boot of danger man Sanchez.
Five of the starting back division and four of the pack will line-up again this weekend, but Hourcade has warned his players not to read anything into Wales’ heavy defeat to Australia in the opening game of the Under Armour Series.
“We don’t think this is a good moment to be playing Wales – no, no! We’d prefer to face a Welsh team at a better moment, not after a thrashing,” added Hourcade.
“They have very good players for this weekend, including some who are returning. So, it would be a huge mistake to think that we are going to face the same team.”
ARGENTINA
15 Joaquin TUCULET (Jaguares)
14 Matias MORONI (Jaguares)
13 Matias ORLANDO (Jaguares)
12 Juan Martin HERNANDEZ (Jaguares)
11 Ramiro MOYANO (Jaguares)
10 Nicolás SANCHEZ (Jaguares)
9 Martin LANDAJO (Jaguares)
1 Lucas NOGUERA (Jaguares)
2 Agustin CREEVY (Jaguares, CAPTAIN)
3 Ramiro HERRERA (Jaguares)
4 Guido PETTI (Jaguares)
5 Matias ALEMANNO (Jaguares)
6 Pablo MATERA (Jaguares)
7 Javier Ortega DESIO (Jaguares)
8 Facundo ISA (Jaguares)
REPLACEMENTS
16 Julián MONTOYA (Jaguares)
17 Santiago García BOTTA (Jaguares)
18 Enrique PIERETTO (Cordoba)
19 Leonardo SENATORE (Jaguares)
20 Tomás LEZANA (Jaguares)
21 Tomás CUBELLI (Brumbies)
22 Santiago Gonzalez IGLESIAS (Jaguares)
23 Santiago CORDERO (Jaguares)
