Los Pumas have handed the No 10 jersey to Santiago Carreras for Saturday’s Rugby Championship clash against the Wallabies in Townsville, after Tomas Albornoz was ruled out with a hand injury.
Carreras’ promotion sharpens the Argentine backline, with his playmaking spark set to be a focal point as Felipe Contepomi’s side look to back up their historic win over the All Blacks.
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He made a telling impact in their record-breaking 67–27 thrashing of Australia in Santa Fe last year, a match where Argentina produced their most dominant win ever over the Wallabies. That 40-point victory stands as Australia’s worst-ever Test defeat, and Carreras’ recent performances – including his role in Argentina’s first-ever home win over New Zealand – elevate expectations that he can replicate that influence in Townsville.
Marcos Kremer also returns to the starting loose trio alongside Pablo Matera and Juan Martín González, while Joel Sclavi is recalled at tighthead after two bench cameos against New Zealand.
The bench carries a mix of promise and risk, with rookies Boris Wenger (prop) and Gerónimo Prisciantelli (fullback) in line for Test debuts. Experienced lock Guido Petti provides ballast in an otherwise youthful impact unit.
ARGENTINA – 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Santiago Carreras, 9 Gonzalo García; 8 Pablo Matera, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Juan Martín González, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Franco Molina, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas
Bench: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Boris Wenger, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Joaquín Oviedo, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 23 Benjamin Elizalde.
¡Nuestros 23! pic.twitter.com/tgUqiqjVfU
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) September 4, 2025
Photo: Rodrigo Valle/Getty Images
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