Bertranou in for Cubelli - Argentina name team to play New Zealand

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has named his match-day 23 to play New Zealand in the first semi-final of Rugby World Cup 2023 at Stade de France on Friday, 20 October.

Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has brought in scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou for Tomás Cubelli in the only change from the team that beat Wales in the quarter-final, for their Rugby World Cup semi-final against New Zealand in Saint-Denis on Friday.

1 Thomas Gallo
2 Julián Montoya (c)
3 Francisco Gómez Kodela
4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal
5 Tomas Lavanini
6 Juan Martin Gonzalez
7 Marcos Kremer
8 Facundo Isa
9 Gonzalo Bertranou
10 Santiago Carreras
11 Mateo Carreras
12 Santiago Chocobares
13 Lucio Cinti
14 Emiliano Boffelli
15 Juan Cruz Mallia

Replacements:
16 Agustín Creevy
17 Joel Sclavi
18 Eduardo Bello
19 Matias Alemanno
20 Rodrigo Bruni
21 Lautaro Bazan Velez
22 Nicolas Sanchez
23 Matías Moroni

• There are seven survivors from the last Rugby World Cup semi-final Los Pumas played in 2015 against Australia – Matías Alemanno, Agustín Creevy, Facundo Isa, Tomas Lavanini, Nicolás Sanchez, Guido Petti and captain Julián Montoya.
• There are six players in the match-day team who have played in both previous victories against the All Blacks – Matías Alemanno, Gonzalo Bertranou, Santigao Carreras, Marcos Kremer, Guido Petti and captain Julián Montoya.
• Nicolás Sanchez has scored the second-most points of any test player in rugby history against the All Blacks (151) – only Australia’s Matt Burke has scored more against New Zealand (176). He has not missed a shot at goal at RWC 2023, kicking all 11 attempts.
• At 38 years and 219 days old on match day, hooker Agustín Creevy will become the oldest player to play a Rugby World Cup semi-final, surpassing South Africa’s Victor Matfield who was 38 years and 166 days against the All Blacks in 2015.
• Number eight Facundo Isa will earn his 50th test cap. He made his debut in 2014 against Scotland, earning his first 25 caps within two years, before returning to the team in 2019 to earn his last 24 caps. This will be his first test against the All Blacks since 2020.
• Fly-half Santiago Carreras generated much of Los Pumas' attack last game, with a team-high 14 carries for 112 metres, two line breaks and the second-most defenders beaten with four.