Pumas team to play All Blacks named

Argentina's Omar Hasan. File Picture / Greg Bowker

BUENOS AIRES - Argentina coach Marcello Loffreda has made three changes to the side which secured a historic 2-0 series win over Wales last week as the Pumas focus on a coveted one-off rugby test against the All Blacks in Argentina on Saturday (11.30am SunNZT).

Loffreda has restored his first choice wing combination to the starting side and made one alteration in the front row where former Wellington and Brumbies Super 12 prop, Omar Hasan, returns from injury to replace Martin Scelzo.

Hasan, an accomplished opera singer in his spare time, picked up a leg niggle playing for losers' Toulouse in the French domestic club championship final two weeks ago and was not risked for the second Wales test here last Saturday, which the Pumas won 45-27.

Out wide, Pumas record try scorer Jose Nunez Piossek will be striving to add to his 29 touchdowns and Federico Martin Aramburu shunts Lucas Borges to the reserves after missing the Welsh visit with a right shoulder injury.

While Borges drops to the bench, right wing Francisco Leonelli will watch from the stands at Velez Sarsfield.

Loffreda, an amateur coach who spends most of the year working as a civil engineer in Buenos Aires, was happy with the preparation for the All Blacks' visit despite the squad being wracked by internal turmoil.

A pay dispute with the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) threatened to derail the tests against Wales and New Zealand and although the cash-strapped organisation eventually footed the bill to bring the players back from their European clubs, discord remains.

Coupled with the financial ructions is the fact the Pumas had not played for seven months, rarely assemble and when they do, quality training time is at a premium.

"It is hard because the players are from all around the world," said Loffreda, who estimated he had less than three months of the year to concentrate on rugby.

"We had the strike also. It is solved but there are still problems."

Still, he was delighted that a hastily convened squad including players based in France, Ireland, England and just four plying their trade in Argentina was able to overcome an admittedly under strength Welsh side.

"In the last three weeks the team is going up, we are stronger in the strategy and the mind," he said.

"For a team that only gathers twice in a year, it's quite good what we do."

However, he accepted the team were rank underdogs against the All Blacks.

"We do not have the depth, or the budgets. We are on a different level but we will play with passion too."

Teams:

Argentina: Juan Hernandez (Stade Francais, France); Jose Nunez Piossek (Bayonne, France), Gonzalo Tiesi (London Irish, England), Felipe Contemponi (Leinster, Ireland), Federico Martin Aramburu (Biarritz, France), Federico Todeschini (Beziers, France), Agustin Pichot (Stade Francais, c), Gonzalo Longo (Clermont Auvergne, France), Juan Fernandez Lobbe (Sale, England), Martin Durand (Montpellier, France), Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan, France), Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (Liceo Naval, Argentina), Omar Hasan (Toulouse, France), Mario Ledesma (Clermont Auvergne), Rodrigo Rochero (Stade Francais).

Reserves: Pablo Gambarini (CASI, Argentina), Martin Scelzo (Clermont Auvergne), Martin Schusterman (Plymouth Albion, England), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (London Irish), Nico Fernandez Miranda (Hindu Club, Argentina), Lucas Borges (Stade Francais), Federico Serra (Miras, Argentina).

New Zealand: Leon MacDonald, Rico Gear, Isaia Toeava, Sam Tuitupou, Scoot Hamilton, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Mose Tuiali'i, Chris Masoe, Jerry Collins (c), Ali Williams, Jason Eaton, Greg Somerville, Anton liver, Tony Woodcock. Reserves: Andrew Hore, Neemia Tialata, Troy Flavell, Craig Newby, Jimmy Cowan, Luke McAlister, Ma'a Nonu.

- NZPA