Argentina will face Tonga on September 28 in a Pool C match at Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Osaka Prefecture, Higashiosaka City. Kickoff is at 13:45 (00:45 ET). In the U.S., the match may be viewed on NBC Sports Gold on-demand as part of an RWC subscription package.
Both Argentina and Tonga lost opening matches to France and to England, respectively.
Argentina Head Coach Mario Ledesma has made four changes to his starting line-up for the Pool C match against Tonga.
Fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta, wing Santiago Carreras, hooker Julian Montoya, and number eight Tomas Lezana come into the team, with Nicolas Sanchez, Agustin Creevy and Javier Ortega Desio moving to the bench.
Bamiro Moyano and Juan Manuel Leguizamon are not on the matchday 23. The latter will have to wait at least another week to equal Felipe Contepomi’s Pumas record of 87.
Urdapilleta, who did not play for the Pumas at all between 2013 and 2019, will make his first test start since June 2013 in his 13th international appearance. Carreras will be making his first test start after winning two caps as a replacement.
After losing to France 23-21, the Pumas will need to look for a bonus-point win against Tonga.
Tonga lost 35-3 against England in their opening match, and Head Coach Toutai Kefu has made changes in his backs.
Kurt Morath, the all-time Tonga points leader, had a tournament ending throat injury, which gives James Faiva his first Rugby World Cup start at flyhalf.
Captain Siale Piutau switches to inside-center with Malietoa Hingano on the outside, as Tonga also lost center Nafi Tuitavake with a broken arm sustained in the last seconds of Sunday’s match.
David Halaifonua moves from full-back to left-wing, with Viliami Lolohea moving from left to right-wing and Telusa Veainu coming in at full-back.
There is one change in the forwards as Paula Ngauamo replaces Sosefo Sakalia at hooker.
Squads
Argentina: 1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro 2. Julian Montoya 3. Juan Figallo 4. Guido Petti 5. Tomas Lavanini 6. Pablo Matera (capt.) 7. Marcos Kremer 8. Tomas Lezana 9. Tomas Cubelli 10. Benjamin Urdapilleta 11. Santiago Carreras 12. Jeronimo De La Fuente 13. Matias Orlando 14. Matías Moroni 15. Emiliano Boffelli 16. Agustín Creevy 17. Mayco Vivas 18. Santiago Medrano 19. Matias Alemanno 20. Javier Ortega Desio 21. Felipe Ezcurra 22. Nicolas Sanchez 23. Bautista Delguy
Tonga: 1. Siegfried Fisi’ihoi 2. Paula Ngauamo 3. Ben Tameifuna 4. Sam Lousi 5. Halaleva Fifita 6. Sione Kalamafoni 7. Zane Kapeli 8. Maama Vaipulu 9. Sonatane Takulua 10. James Faiva 11. David Halaifonua 12. Siale Piutau (capt.) 13. Malietoa Hingano 14. Viliami Lolohea 15. Telusa Veainu 16. Sosefo Sakalia 17. Vunipola Fifita 18. Ma’afu Fia 19. Sitiveni Mafi 20. Nasi Manu 21. Leon Fukofuka 22. Latiume Fosita 23. Cooper Vuna
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