The Pumas vs Scotland, for the second test match: minute by minute, live

With the idea of ​​improving the aspects referred to by the Australian coach The CougarsMichael Cheika, stressed that after the test match against Scotland in Jujuy and the certainty that the game will have other characteristics, the chosen team has completed its preparation for this Saturday’s meeting at 4:05 pm against the same opponent in Father Ernesto Martearena with the arbitration of the French Mathiu Raynal.

If the Argentine team gets another victory they will keep the series, while if the Scots win everything will be defined in a week at the Madre de Ciudades in Santiago, where the last match will be played.

The two teams will go with the changes. While Argentina have seen three changes and changes in the role of some players, Scotland will change almost half a pack.

Los Pumas will not include Juan Cruz Mallía, Nicolás Sánchez and Pablo Matera, who will be replaced by Juan Imhoff, Santiago Carreras and Rodrigo Bruni, respectively. The peculiarity is that Carreras will play at the opening, a position that he lives only in the national team since in Gloucester he works as a winger or full-back.

“I feel good, it’s not my position but I hold his hand. It’s a position where you also have to lead the team, make decisions, watch what happens up front”, Cordovan listed.

The entry of Imhoff is explained by the characteristics of the match: a priori it will be more closed than the first and among the qualities of the rosarino the odor of goal stands out and the use of the foot to leave one’s field.

The absence of Matera will allow Bruni to prove the solidity of the moment in which he is: at times his energy seems to dominate him and he cannot be stopped in attack.

But Cheika wasn’t the only one to move the chips for the match. Coach Gregor Townsend will field his courageous letter: recovered from the injury, Hamish Watson will make his 50th appearance for Scotland. The British & Irish Lions winger did not play Jujuy due to pain in his shoulder and chest but is now ready to be part of the game.

Perhaps their participation anticipates one of the characteristics that the game will have: the point of contact will largely define the dominant team. Unlike the Jujuy match, Los Pumas will have a more territorial rival, with foot management and a pace closer to that shown in the second half in the “Tacita de Plata”.

And precisely on the aspects glimpsed in that same period, Cheika tried to train during the week to avoid repeating mistakes: he does not want his players to speculate on the score. The message that came down is that the team must resolve “Depending on what awaits us”; that is, react to the rival.

He also hopes that the good sleight of hand will be repeated, which, at times, was seen in his debut as team leader when Los Pumas showed quality in the quick three-quarters ball and forced several penalties.

Beyond the preparation for the game and the guesswork ahead of what Scotland can do, Cheika has an idea of ​​what areas to improve: not based on the opponent and the upcoming World Cup, but based on the team itself.

“I don’t think much about the World Cup yet; yes, I build for the world cup. I think about these three weeks and then I keep thinking. The idea is to improve not with respect to Scotland but in our game ”, indicated Cheika in confirming the starting team.

“We are arming ourselves. We prepare like everyone else, we must concentrate step by step and accept the challenge of the day, which is the next match that will be totally different from the first. We have an immediate goal which is to improve ”, she distinguished.

In relation to the injuries that forced the changes and the new call-ups -Domingo Miotti and Felipe Ezcurra, also excluded from the call of Argentina XV-, Cheika preferred to highlight the optimistic side of the situation. “The substitutes are with experienced men and show that everyone has a chance to be here”celebrated.

Formations

Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli; Santiago Cordero, Matías Orlando, Jerónimo De la Fuente and Juan Imhoff; Santiago Carreras and Gonzalo Bertranou; Nicolás Sánchez and Tomás Cubelli; Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer and Juan Martín González; Matías Alemanno and Guido Petti; Francisco Gómez Kodela, Julián Montoya (captain) and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Coach: Michael Cheika.

Scotland: Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry and Zander Fagerson; Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist (captain), Rory Darge, Hamish Watson and Matt Fagerson; Ben White and Blair Kinghorn; Duhan van der Merwe, Sam Johnson, Mark Bennett and Darcy Graham; Rory Hutchison.

Coach: Gregor Townsend.

Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France).

Participant: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand) and Pierre Brousset (France).

OMT: Brian Mac Neice (England).

Stage. Father Martearena (Skip).

Now: 16.10.

TV: ESPN and Star Plus.

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