Captain Montoya reaches 100 caps for Pumas in home match against Wallabies

SANTA FE, Argentina (AP) — Captain Julian Montoya will play his 100th test for Argentina in the second straight home match against Australia in the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

The Pumas lost to the Wallabies 20-19 last Saturday on a last-gasp penalty kick in La Plata.

Montoya will become only the fourth centurion in Pumas history at Colon Stadium. The hooker debuted in 2014 and took over the captaincy full-time from 2021. He led the Pumas to the semifinals at the Rugby World Cup in France last year.

They have made four changes; starting locks Guido Petti and Tomas Lavanini have a combined 172 caps, Tomas Albornoz is at flyhalf for Santiago Carreras, and wing Bautista Delguy has displaced Santiago Cordero.

Pedro Rubiolo, the starting second-rower last week, suffered a concussion in the first minute and is unavailable. Partner Franco Molina has dropped to the reserves.

In the reserves, hooker Ignacio Ruiz replaced the retired Agustin Creevy, and Perpignan clubmate Joaquin Oviedo was the backup loose forward.

James Slipper is set to equal George Gregan’s record of 139 tests for Australia in Saturday’s match. The 35-year-old Slipper made his Wallabies debut in 2010 and has been named as the replacement loosehead prop in a substitute front row that also features Allan Ala’alatoa and Josh Nasser.

Max Jorgensen will earn his first start after celebrating his 20th birthday earlier in the week. He’ll line up on the right wing, with Andrew Kellaway starting at fullback for the first time in 2024.

Western Force skipper Jeremy Williams earns a start in the second row alongside Nick Frost, with an unchanged back row of Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini and Harry Wilson. No. 8 Wilson will captain the side for a second consecutive week.

Last week’s match-winner, Ben Donaldson, will start at flyhalf for the first time this year, after Noah Lolesio was ruled out with tightness across the upper back. Donaldson will partner Jake Gordon, who starts at scrumhalf.

“Last weekend was very tough and very tight,” Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said. “We have a few changes after the bruising encounter and know that it will be physical again this weekend.”

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Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Bautista Delguy, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras, Tomas Albornoz, Gonzalo Bertranou; Juan Martin Gonzalez, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (captain), Thomas Gallo. Reserves: Ignacio Ruiz, Mayco Vivas, Eduardo Bello, Franco Molina, Joaquin Oviedo, Santiago Grondona, Gonzalo Garcia, Santiago Carreras.

Australia: Andrew Kellaway, Max Jorgensen, Len Ikitau, Hamish Stewart, Marika Koroibete, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Harry Wilson (captain), Carlo Tizzano, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Nick Frost, Taniela Tupou, Matt Faessler, Angus Bell. Reserves: Josh Nasser, James Slipper, Allan Ala’alatoa, Josh Canham, Langi Gleeson, Tate McDermott, Tom Lynagh, Josh Flook

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