Pumas make five changes for Ireland

ARGENTINA coach Santiago Phelan has made five changes to his starting XV for tomorrow’s Test against Ireland at Croke Park.

Horacio Agulla comes in at full-back with Bernardo Stortoni, who played in that position in the 22-14 win at Italy last weekend, dropping to the bench.

Francisco Leonelli comes in on the right wing in place of Federico Martin Aramburu who switches to centre alongside Miguel Avramovic. The pair replace Gonzalo Tiesi and Felipe Contepomi. Skipper Contepomi misses out after contracting an infection in a cut on his right hand.

Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe therefore takes over as captain and moves to the openside. Juan Manuel Leguizamon will take his place at number eight.

Phelan’s final change sees Rimas Alvarez Kairelis come into the second row at the expense of Esteban Lozada.

Brian O’Driscoll has compared tomorrow’s clash at Croke Park to a World Cup qualifier.

With the seedings for the World Cup draw on December 1 being determined by rankings, defeat would drop the Irish to ninth and guarantee a group containing two major nations.

“There seems to have been a lot at stake in all the games we’ve played against Argentina over the years,” said the Ireland captain. “Post-World Cup we’ve built up grudge matches, one team wanting to defeat the other.

“This particular match is about seeding. I don’t think you can compare this game to anything in the Six Nations.

“Six Nations rugby is a mentality in itself, this is more like a qualification match for the World Cup.

“I’ve been involved in World Cup qualifiers before against lower-quality sides. Essentially that’s what this is.

“That does add to the pressure for both sides. We have something to gain from it but that does give it more of an edge.”