Coach Mario Ledesma makes three changes to Argentina’s starting side for Wallabies

ARGENTINA coach Mario Ledesma has responded to last weekend’s loss against the All Blacks by beefing up his forward pack for Saturday’s Test against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast.

The Pumas trailed by eight points after 70 minutes against New Zealand, but two late tries saw the margin blow out to 46-24 as the world champions sealed their third straight bonus point win.

While the Pumas made a good fist of the match, their scrum was a shadow of what it once was as the All Blacks dominated the set piece.

Ledesma — one of Argentina’s great hookers — has responded by making two changes to the starting pack as they seek their first Test win on Australian soil since 1983.

Argentina (15-1): Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, Matias Moroni, Jeronimo De La Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Javier Ortega Desio, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Santiago Medrano, Agustin Creevy (c), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
Reserves: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Matias Alemanno, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Martin Landajo, Bautista Ezcurra, Juan Cruz Mallia

Santiago Medrano gets a start at tighthead prop, with Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro shifted to the loosehead side and Santiago Garcia Botta dropped to the bench.

Blindside flanker Tomas Lezana is out with a torn hamstring, with the experienced Pablo Matera taking his place on the side of the scrum.

At halfback, Gonzalo Bertranou comes in for Martin Landajo, with former Brumbies No 9 Tomas Cubelli dropping out of the matchday squad.

Prop Juan Pablo Zeiss is in line to play his second Test off the bench.

It’s the first time that Ledesma will coach against good friend Michael Cheika, after previously serving as his scrum specialist with the Wallabies, Waratahs and Stade Francais.