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Argentina make 7 changes to Springbok slayers with enforcer ruled out
By Josh Raisey
Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has made seven changes to the team that triumphed over South Africa last week for their rematch in the final round of The Rugby Championship on Saturday.
The Pumas go into the match with the mathematical possibility of winning the Championship, although that would require a bonus point win over the world champions at the Mbombela Stadium while also depriving them of any points whatsoever.
The task is that much harder for the visitors with enforcer Marcos Kremer ruled out with a knee injury. He will be replaced by Bristol Bears' Santiago Grondona in the No 7 jersey in one of three changes to the pack.
Imposing lock Tomas Lavanini has returned to the starting XV with Franco Molina dropping to the bench, while Juan Martin Gonzalez has swapped roles with Pablo Matera, with the former captain starting on the bench.
The four changes in the backline see three substitutes from last week - scrum-half Gonzalo Garcia, full-back Santiago Carrera and centre Matias Moroni - start in place of Gonzalo Bertanou, Lucio Cinti and Juan Cruz Mallia, with the latter two dropping to the bench.
The final change in the backline sees Harlequins signing Rodrigo Isgro start in place of Bautista Delguy.
Kremer's club ASM Clermont Auvergne shared an update on the flanker's health on Thursday. Their statement reads: "Back in Auvergne, Marcos Kremer underwent additional examinations which confirmed the sprain of the internal lateral ligament of his left knee. The Argentine back-row will be sidelined for a few weeks."
Argentina XV
15 Santiago Carreras
14 Rodrigo Isgro
13 Matais Moroni
12 Santiago Chocobares
11 Mateo Carreras
10 Tomas Albornoz
9 Gonzalo Garcia
1 Thomas Gallo
2 Julian Montoya
3 Joel Sclavi
4 Pedro Rubiolo
5 Tomás Lavanini
6 Juan Martín Gonzalez
7 Santiago Grondona
8 Joaquin Oviedo
Replacements
16 Ignacio Ruiz
17 Ignacio Calles
18 Pedro Delgado
19 Franco Molina
20 Pablo Matera
21 Lautaro Bazan Velez
22 Lucio Cinti
23 Juan Cruz Mallia
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No I know. Like I mentioned, many would be opposed, most of all France. France's domestic rugby rivals their domestic football, that's how healthy it is.
Go to commentsIt was, perhaps the worst performance I've ever seen from Quins. Also a very un-Quins performance because usually, when they lose, it's because they gave up too many tries even though they scored enough. Haven't been blanked in 10 years. Didn't even let Gloucester get that many, they just simple could not get the ball across the line, couldn't hold on to it really at all.
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