Argentina strengthen their back line against the All Blacks

Argentina coach Michael Cheika unveiled a strengthened back line on Thursday and made three changes to his squad to face New Zealand in the Rugby Championship game in Christchurch on Saturday.

Cheika has also revamped his bench of substitutes in order to maintain the winning formula which allowed the Pumas to crush Australia (48-17) in San Juan 12 days ago. Winger Juan Imhoff and center Jeronimo de la Fuente are absent from the squad that beat the Wallabies, as is prop Francisco Gomez Kodela.

Inexperienced Lucio Cinti replaces Imhoff on the left wing, while outside full-back Matias Moroni, who has appeared in 60 Tests, replaces injured De la Fuente and reunites with long-time colleague Matias Orlando in the middle. Both Cinti and Moroni are tall defenders which Cheika says will be important in countering the All Blacks.

“New Zealand have a great back line so we have some great players to counter ithe told reporters on Thursday. “This squad is a combination of what we saw in the last game and the chance to see a few things differentadded the Australian.

Joel Sclavi will start at right prop while Cheika has changed the front five on his bench.

Front row veterans Augustin Creevy and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro were among the substitutes against Australia but were not selected for the trip to New Zealand, returning to their clubs in Europe.

Argentina line-up against New Zealand: Mallia – Boffelli, Moroni, Orlando, Cinti – (o) Carreras, (m) Bertranou – Matera, Kremer, Gonzalez Samso – Lavanini, Alemanno – Sclavi, Montoya (cap.), Gallo

Subs: Socino, Vivas, Bello, Petti, Grondona, Cubelli, Albornoz, Cordero