PREVIEW-Rugby-Argentina shuffle backs in search of way through Bok defence

"But I think we can do things better if we implement what we train in the week." Domingo Miotti has been drafted in at flyhalf for Argentina for his first test start, while there is also a shuffle of the back three with Juan Cruz Mallia in at fullback and Santiago Carreras moving to the wing. Ignacio Mendy, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the Rugby Sevens in Tokyo, will be given his debut as Ledesma admits he is looking towards the next Rugby World Cup in France in two years’ time.

Argentina's task in Saturday's Rugby Championship test against South Africa in Nelson Mandela Bay is to break down a resolute home defence that has conceded only four tries in their last 10 matches, but it is an assignment much easier said than done.

The visitors were kept tryless in last weekend's 32-12 defeat at the same venue in which the Boks claimed a bonus point for their three scores, and with the hosts having now picked a team that looks much closer to their first-choice selection, Argentina's task will be harder. Keeping the Boks at bay will likely not be enough to win the game, Argentina must find a way to disrupt the home set-piece, and accumulate points through time spent in the Bok 22.

"We didn't execute well last weekend because we were under pressure from the South African defence," Argentina coach Mario Ledesma said. "But I think we can do things better if we implement what we train in the week." Domingo Miotti has been drafted in at flyhalf for Argentina for his first test start, while there is also a shuffle of the back three with Juan Cruz Mallia in at fullback and Santiago Carreras moving to the wing.

Ignacio Mendy, who won an Olympic bronze medal in the Rugby Sevens in Tokyo, will be given his debut as Ledesma admits he is looking towards the next Rugby World Cup in France in two years' time. "Miotti has always been entering at the end of games, but we are working with him. He raised his hand and it's part of what we talked about in terms of training players for France 2023."

The Boks will not deviate from their plans, especially as they return to much the same side that won the British & Irish Lions series, bar some changes at the front of the scrum. "Argentina will come hard at us, so we know we need to perform much better than last week to get the desired result," Bok coach Jacques Nienaber said.

"While we were pleased with the victory and to start our Rugby Championship campaign on a winning note, there is a lot of room for improvement in our performance. "We've identified a few areas we need to work on if we want to defend our (Rugby Championship) title successfully."

Both teams will later face Australia and New Zealand in two tests each, though the venue for these is still being discussed.

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