Rugby Championship
Hernandez returns for Pumas
2012-09-04 08:37
Juan Martin Hernandez (File)
|
Wellington - Argentina have been bolstered by the
return of first choice flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez and flank Juan
Manuel Leguizamon for Saturday's Rugby Championship Test against the All
Blacks.
The return of Hernandez and the inclusion of 35-Test
openside flank Leguizamon are the only changes to the Pumas side that
drew with South Africa 16-16 in Mendoza two weeks ago.
Playmaker
Hernandez, who was a late withdrawal from that match because of a
hamstring injury, replaces Bordeaux's Nicolas Sanchez and Leguizamon
comes in the side for Alvaro Galindo.
Leguizamon was sidelined by a
stomach injury for Argentina's first championship matches and his last
Test appearance was when Argentina lost 33-10 to the All Blacks in the
World Cup quarter-finals last year.
He forms part of an
experienced Argentine forward pack which includes prop Rodrigo Roncero,
lock Patricio Albacete and captain and backrower Juan Martin Fernandez
Lobbe.
Argentina are being assisted in their preparations for this
match by former All Blacks coach Graham Henry who is helping with the
development of Argentine rugby.
Although Henry is encouraging
Argentina to play a more expansive game they are expected to stick with
their traditional style of a rugged forward confrontation.
The
tourists only named their starting 15 on Tuesday with the replacements
to be announced on Thursday, the day the All Blacks name their side.
Teams:New Zealand:
TBA
Argentina:
15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez,
11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin
Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu,
1 Rodrigo Roncero
Susbtitutes: TBA