Argentina makes nine changes to take on Brazil

Tomás Cubelli to play scrumhalf vs Brazil

After just a three day turn-around both the second round of the 2012 South American Championship will be played tomorrow, Wednesday in Santiago, Chile. The tournament favorites, Argentina, got a good 40-5 win on Sunday againast Uruguay and is confidently going about its business with nine changes having been made to the team to face Brazil in the second round. The changes will see Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba, Germán Aráoz, César Fruttero, Nicolás Azzorin, Rodrigo Bruno, Tomás Cubelli, Stéfano Ambrosio, Santiago Craig and Facundo Barrea all starting. The team will be led again by Leonardo Senatore who is the only player to have played professional rugby this season.

The match is to be the first between the die-hard soccer rivals in almost twenty years as the last time Argentina faced Brazil in test rugby was back in 1993. On that occassion Argentina won the match 114-3. The result is not expected to be so one sided this time around, however, but if Brazil can restrict Los Pumas to a difference of 50 points it will be a significant achievement. The closest match in history between the teams saw Argentina winning 30-8 in São Paulo in 1964. Argentina has won all eleven matches between the sides.

Argentina

1 Ignacio Sáenz Lancuba

2 Martín García Veiga

3 Germán Aráoz

4 César Fruttero

5 Nicolás Azzorin

6 Javier Ortega Desio

7 Rodrigo Bruno

8 Leonardo Senatore (Captain)

9 Tomás Cubelli

10 Stéfano Ambrosio

11 Manuel Montero

12 Javier Rojas

13 Santiago Craig

14 Facundo Barrea

15 Ramiro Moyano

Reserves: 16 Roberto Tejerizo, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Santiago Guzmán, 19 Benjamín Macome, 20 Martín Landajo, 21 Valentín Cruz, 22 Matías Orlando.

Brazil is yet to confirm its lineup for the match.