Argentina have left five-eighth Nicolas Sanchez out of their match day squad for the first time in three years for their must-win clash against England in Tokyo.
Sanchez has not missed a World Cup or Rugby Championship game since 2016 when he was injured, but Benjamin Urdapilleta has been preferred with Lucas Mensa offering cover on the bench.
“When we are selecting a team, we are thinking about the best team to win the game and that’s the parameters to select the team, there’s nothing negative in it,” said coach Mario Ledesma.
“It’s just this is the best selection possible to win this game.”
The Pumas made one change to the side that defeated Tonga 28-12 with Javier Ortega Desio replacing Tomas Lezana at No.8.
Agustin Creevy started a war of words earlier this week when he described England’s style of play as “boring”, but the veteran hooker can only win a place on the bench.
Creevy will break Felipe Contepomi’s record to become Argentina’s most capped player on 88 Test appearances when he comes off the bench at Tokyo Stadium.
There are only six survivors from 21-8 defeat by England in 2017 – the last time the nations played – including inspirational captain Pablo Matera and openside flanker Marcos Kremer.
“For us, this is a World Cup final and it’s a real chance to get in the history books of Argentine rugby,” Ledesma said.
“Obviously, England is a candidate for the title, they’ve been saying it for the last four years, Eddie Jones has been saying it. They have a lot of resources, they have a really good team.
“But I am confident that it’s going to be really hard to beat us at the weekend.”
Argentina:
Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Santigo Carreras, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Tomas Cubelli,,Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Julian Montoya, Juan Figallo, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera (capt), Marcos Kremer, Javier Ortega Desio. Res: Agustin Creevy, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Lucas Mensa, Bautista Delguy.