Nicolás Sánchez
Nicolas Sanchez, the highest points scorer at the Rugby World Cup, will captain Argentina for the 1st time in Friday’s 3rd-place play-off against South Africa.
Sanchez, who has 89 points, mainly from the boot, will take over the armband from the injured Agustin Creevy.
Coach Daniel Hourcade has made 9 changes to the team that started the 15 / 29 semifinal loss against Australia last Sunday.
Many were forced by injury as key players Creevy, outstanding wing Juan Imhoff and veteran centre Juan Martin Hernández all had to be replaced on Sunday.
Among Friday’s starters, Horacio Agulla and Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe started the 2007 3rd-place play-off for Argentina.
Marcos Ayerza and Juan Manuel Leguizamon came on as replacements in that match which saw them beat hosts France for the 2nd time in the tournament.
Los Pumas: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez (Captain), 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Juan Figallo
Replacements: 16 Lucas Noguera, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Santiago García Botta, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.
Date: Friday 30 October
Venue: Olympic Stadium, London
Kick-Off: 22:00 SA Time (20:00 UK Time, 20:00 GMT, 17:00 Arg Time)
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)
TMO: Graham Hughes