Matera to skipper Pumas team stripped of stars for daunting Boks clash in Buenos Aires

Led by skipper Pablo Matera (pictured), Argentina will face the Springboks in Buenos Aires without eight European-based players because the match falls outside the international window. Picture: ALEJANDRO PAGNI / AFP Argentina will face the Springboksin Buenos Aires on Saturday night without a host of key players, leaving the Pumas with a daunting task against the world champions. CoachFelipe Contepomihas been forced to leave out several of his regulars based in Europe because the match falls outside the international window.

The unusual situation is a consequence of the Rugby Championship being scrapped this year to make way for theRugby’s Greatest Rivalry tour between South Africa and New Zealand. Among the players unavailable to Contepomi are regular captain Julián Montoya, flank Marcos Kremer, flyhalf Tomás Albornoz, centre Santiago Chocobares, No 8 Joaquín Oviedo, scrumhalf Gonzalo García, centre Justo Piccardo and winger Bautista Delguy. The absentees have opened the door for four uncapped players in the matchday 23, with tighthead prop Francisco Moreno handed a starting debut. Leonel Oviedo, Juan Penoucos and Juan Martín Scelzo will make their Test debuts from the replacements’ bench.