Argentina summons Moroni, Imhoff for second Springboks test

Thu, Sep 22, 2022
Other News (AP)

DURBAN, South Africa (AP) - Veteran outside backs Matias Moroni and Juan Imhoff will start for Argentina against South Africa in the last match of the Rugby Championship on Saturday.

Moroni came off the bench and scored a late try for the Pumas last weekend in Buenos Aires, where they rallied to trail 22-20 but lost 36-20.

Inside back Matias Orlando was dropped and Jeronimo de la Fuente shifted inside, making room for Moroni at center, where he started both tests against New Zealand.

Imhoff, who hasn't featured since a try in the home win against Australia more than a month ago, replaced Lucio Cinti on the left wing. Imhoff was back at Kings Park, where he scored a hat trick in 2015 in the Pumas' first win against the Springboks.

The pack was unchanged while the reserves included uncapped 19-year-old lock Pedro Rubiolo from the Jaguares XV and Argentina Under-20s, and the return of prop Mayco Vivas and back Bautista Delguy, who hasn't featured since the Scotland series in July.

Argentina has an outside chance of winning the championship, while South Africa starts with a strong chance. The Springboks and New Zealand are tied on points at the top of the standings. New Zealand plays first on Saturday against Australia in Auckland.

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Argentina: Juan Cruz Mallia, Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Juan Imhoff, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou; Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tomas Lavanini, Matias Alemanno, Eduardo Bello, Julian Montoya (captain), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. Reserves: Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Joel Sclavi, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Tomas Cubelli, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Bautista Delguy.

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