Argentina roll out big guns to face South Africa

Argentina have named a strong team for their opening game of the Rugby Championship against South Africa at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium on Saturday.

It is a similar line-up that faced Wales last time out as only one change is made and that comes at scrum-half where Felipe Ezcurra replaces Tomás Cubelli.

Otherwise the XV remains the same and is led by hooker Julián Montoya, who packs down alongside Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Francisco Gómez Kodela.

Mobile lock pairing

Behind them the mobile pair of Guido Petti and Marcos Kremer are the locks while Pablo Matera, Facundo Isa and Rodrigo Bruni form the back-row.

Alongside Ezcurra at half-back will be the experienced fly-half Nicolás Sánchez, with Jerónimo de la Fuente and Santiago Chocobares in midfield.

Completing the starting team against the Boks in the back three will be wings Matías Moroni and Bautista Delguy and full-back Santiago Carreras.

Tomás Lavanini and Matías Alemanno add power on the bench where they’re joined by solid half-backs Gonzalo Bertranou and Domingo Miotti.

Argentina: 15 Santiago Carreras, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Santiago Chocobares, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Matías Moroni, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Felipe Ezcurra, 8 Rodrigo Bruni, 7 Facundo Isa, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Marcos Kremer, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Replacements: 16 Facundo Bosch, 17 Carlos Muzzio, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Tomás Lavanini, 20 Matías Alemanno, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Domingo Miotti, 23 Sebastian Cancelliere

Date: Saturday, August 14
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 17:05 local (16:05 BST, 15:05 GMT)
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), AJ Jacobs (South Africa)
TMO: Tom Foley (Wales)

What's next in the rugby calendar?

Mark Smith and Adam Kyriacou from the Planet Rugby Show look ahead to life after the Lions tour, as the Rugby Championship has kicked into gear this weekend.