Pumas and Uruguay meet to decide South American rugby supremacy

MALDONADO, Uruguay (AP) — Argentina and Uruguay meet in an official rugby test on Saturday for the first time in 18 years.

Los Pumas have never lost to Los Teros, and rarely been pushed, in a contest going back to 1951. After their last test in 2006, a Rugby World Cup qualifier won by the Pumas 26-0 in Buenos Aires, Argentina fielded B teams.

But at the Rugby World Cup last September, Uruguay showed its mettle by beating Namibia and being competitive with France and Italy.

In their first match since then under new coach Rodolfo Ambrosio, an Argentine who played flyhalf for Italy, Los Teros lost to a France Development XV 43-28 last week in Montevideo.

Since then, four outside backs have gone to play sevens at the Paris Olympics. Ambrosio has picked the same forward pack and recalled World Cup wing Nicolas Freitas for the game at Domingo Burgueño Miguel Stadium.

Argentina has made eight changes after beating France 33-25 last weekend in Buenos Aires.

Among the changes, Benetton outside back Ignacio Mendy will play his first test since his 2021 debut against South Africa, and hooker Ignacio Ruiz will make his first start in his 10th test. Ruiz replaces captain Julian Montoya, who injured ribs against France. The Pumas don’t feature Montoya or predecessor Agustin Creevy in a matchday 23 for the first time since November 2014, according to ESPN.

The captaincy has passed to flanker Marcos Kremer for the first time in his 67th test.

Fellow back-rower Joaquin Moro will make his debut, and Brive prop Francisco Coria Marchetti could play his first test off the bench.

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Lineups:

Uruguay: Ignacio Alvarez, Juan Manuel Alonso, Tomas Inciarte, Andres Vilaseca (captain), Nicolas Freitas, Felipe Etcheverry, Santiago Alvarez; Manuel Diana, Santiago Civetta, Manuel Ardao, Manuel Leindekar, Felipe Aliaga, Reinaldo Piussi, German Kessler, Mateo Sanguinetti. Reserves: Guillermo Pujadas, Ignacio Peculo, Diego Arbelo, Diego Magno, Lucas Bianchi, Carlos Deus, Joaquin Suarez, Juan Bautista Hontou.

Argentina: Santiago Cordero, Ignacio Mendy, Santiago Chocobares, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Joaquin Oviedo, Marcos Kremer (captain), Joaquin Moro, Pedro Rubiolo, Franco Molina, Eduardo Bello, Ignacio Ruiz, Thomas Gallo. Reserves: Ignacio Calles, Mayco Vivas, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras, Matias Orlando.

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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby