Posted by The summer internationals come to a close for Wales this weekend with a winner-takes-all clash against Argentina in the second of the two-test series at the Principality Stadium.
Last Saturday saw the two sides play out a 20-20 draw in Cardiff as late tries from Will Rowlands and Tomos Williams clawed the home team back into the game after Juan Cruz Mallia was shown a red card for a high tackle towards the end of the first half.
A first ever draw between the teams and the first time Argentina have avoided defeat against Wales since November 2012, but they will be keen to leave Europe with a win ahead of travelling to South Africa for the first round of the 2021 Rugby Championship in mid-August.
In order to secure that win head coach Mario Ledesma has made one forced and one tactical change to his starting XV, which result in a new look outside backs selection.
The suspended Mallia sits out, as does Santiago Cordero, with Santiago Chocbares and Bautista Delguy replacing them. Chocobares slots in at centre so Mattias Moroni moves to the wing with Santiago Carreras switching to full-back and Delguy playing on the other wing.
There are two new faces on the bench as Felipe Ezcurra and Juan Imhoff will cover scrum-half and the back three, respectively.
Argentina: Santiago Carreras, Matias Moroni, Santiago Chocbares, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomás Cubelli; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Julian Montoya (c), Francisco Gomez Kodela, Guido Petti, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Facundo Isa, Rodrigo Bruni
Replacements: Facundo Bosch, Facundo Gigena, Santiago Medrano, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Felipe Ezcurra, Domingo Miotti, Juan Imhoff
Having largely stuck with the same 23 over the last two weeks, Wayne Pivac has rung the changes for this final game of the summer with seven new faces in the starting XV.
Gareth Thomas and Leon Brown form a new propping pair while Josh Turnbull replaces the injured Aaron Wainwright as Ross Moriarty switches to number eight. Tomos Williams and Jarrod Evans are a new half-back pairing, while Nick Tompkins gets the nod at outside centre and Tom Rogers returns on the wing.
Sam Parry and Rhodri Jones are introduced to the bench as part of the front row cover, while Matthew Screech could make his debut if brought on at lock. Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy and Willis Halaholo drop down as the backs options.
Wales: Hallam Amos, Tom Rogers, Nick Tompkins, Jon Davies (c), Owen Lane, Jarrod Evans, Tomos Williams; Gareth Thomas, Elliot Dee, Leon Brown, Ben Carter, Will Rowlands, Josh Turnbull, James Botham, Ross Moriarty
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Rhodri Jones, Dillon Lewis, Matthew Screech, Taine Basham, Kieran Hardy, Callum Sheedy, Willis Halaholo
Wales know that they need to start much better if they are to overcome Argentina this weekend, especially if the opposition remain at a full complement of players, as they looked very strong for the first 30 minutes last Saturday.
The home side struggled with playing a touch too expansively for their own good, losing the breakdown battle badly, as well as suffering from a lack of discipline in defence, but if they can tighten up that attacking game early on and secure more possession and territory then there were opportunities to score points available.
However, get on the back foot early and it could be a long afternoon for what is a somewhat scratch Wales side after all, going up against a strong Argentina outfit.
Cardiff Rugby Life 