Los Pumas make wholesale changes

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: The Argentina team named Thursday to play New Zealand in a Tri-Nations Test in Newcastle, north of Sydney, on Saturday.

Los Pumas head coach Mario Ledesma has made ten changes to his starting side for the big clash in Newcastle.

In the backline, Ledesma has made six changes.

The midfield pairing of centres Santiago Chocobares and Matias Orlando, who played so well defensively against the Wallabies, gives way to Jeronimo de la Fuente and Juan Cruz Mallia.

On the wing are Santiago Cordero and Ramiro Moyano will replace Bautista Delguy and Juan Imhoff respectively.

While at fullback the experienced Emiliano Boffelli replaces Santiago Carreras.

In the backrow Facundo Isa who came off the bench against the Wallabies last week starts at No.8 replacing Rodrigo Bruni.

He has also rotated his props with Marcos Vivas and Santiago Medrano getting the call-up.

The other change in the forward pack sees new cap Lucas Paulos take the number five jersey from Matias Alemanno.

The Los Pumas will be looking to beat the All Blacks for a second time in the tournament and are on a three-match unbeaten run. They are full of confidence after the earlier 25-15 win in Sydney and a 15-15 draw last weekend against the Wallabies in Newcastle.

Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 13 Juan Cruz Mallía, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Lucas Paulos, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Santiago Medrano, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Mayco Vivas.

Replacements: 16 Santiago Socino, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20. Santiago Grondona, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Carreras 23 Lucas Mensa.

Date: Saturday, November 28

Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle

Kick-off: 19.45 AEDT (21.45 NZ time; 05.45 Buenos Aires time; 08.45 GMT)

Referee: Nic Berry

Assistant referees: Angus Gardner, Ben O'Keeffe

TMO: Paul Williams