The Transalpines host the Pumas on Saturday, whom they have not beaten since 2008.
Toulouse’s Ange Capuozzo and Juan Cruz Mallia both start at the back of their respective teams, Italy and Argentina, who face each other on Saturday in Udine (6:40 p.m.). Capuozzo, in very good form with Toulouse (5 tries in 9 matches) completes the Italian back trio with wingers Monty Ioane and Louis Lynagh. At the hinge, Toulon fly-half Paolo Garbisi and Lyon scrum-half Martin Page-Relo will be associated.
Perpignan flyhalf Tommaso Allan, present on the bench, returns to the selection after an eight-month break from his international career to devote himself to his family and his club career.
The Argentine team, led by hooker and captain Julian Montoya, will be guided at the hinge by Treviso fly-half Tomas Albornoz and scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou. The versatile Mallia, 28, is lined up at the back, in the absence of Santiago Carreras, who has a calf injury.
The Pumas, who will then face Ireland then France, are also without third row Pablo Matera (suspended) and Marcos Kremer (knee), second row Tomas Lavanini (ankle) as well as Toulouse center Santiago Chocobares (knee). Italy have not beaten Argentina since 2008, and their last home victory against the Pumas dates back to 1998.
The composition of Italy:
Capuozzo – Lynagh, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane; (o) Garbisi, (m) Page-Relo – Lamaro (cap.), Cannone, Negri – Ruzza, Cannone – Riccioni, Lucchesi, Spagnolo
Substitutes: Nicotera, Fischetti, Ferrari, Lamb, Zuliani, Garbisi, Allan, Zanon
The composition of Argentina:
Mallia – Isgro, Cinti, Orlando, Delguy – (o) Albornoz, (m) Bertranou – Grondona, Oviedo, Gonzalez – Rubiolo, Molina – Sclavi, Montoya (cap.), Gallo
Substitutes: Ruiz, Calles, Gomez Kodela, Alemanno, Pedemonte, Garcia, Moroni, Cordero
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