MENDOZA, Argentina — Argentina have responded to their painful opening-Test defeat to Australia with a significant tactical reshuffle, handing inexperienced fly-half Nicolás Roger one of the biggest assignments of his young international career as Los Pumas try to stop the Wallabies from completing a rare clean sweep on Argentine soil.
Felipe Contepomi has altered both his forward pack and backline for Saturday’s second Test at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas in Mendoza after Australia claimed a 27–21 victory in San Salvador de Jujuy.
But Argentina’s changes come with an uncomfortable twist: Australia are not standing still either.
Wallabies coach Les Kiss has strengthened his own starting XV, bringing captain Harry Wilson back at No.8, restoring experienced props Angus Bell and Taniela Tupou, and reuniting the highly rated midfield combination of Len Ikitau and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii. Ben Donaldson also takes over at fly-half.
That leaves Argentina facing a simple equation in Mendoza: win, or watch Australia leave with the series.
Nicolás Roger Gets the Biggest Test of His Career
The most intriguing decision from Contepomi is at fly-half.
Santiago Carreras, who wore the No.10 jersey in the first Test, moves to full-back, while Nicolás Roger steps into the playmaking role alongside scrum-half Simón Benítez Cruz.
Roger entered the week with only four Test appearances, making the decision a major vote of confidence in the young playmaker.
The move is particularly significant because Argentina are without several established options.
Regular fly-half Tomás Albornoz is serving a World Rugby suspension that specifically rules him out of both Tests against Australia, while other senior players have also been unavailable during this stretch of Argentina’s season.
Carreras’ switch to full-back means Gerónimo Prisciantelli drops out of the starting side entirely.
It gives Argentina a different attacking structure — but also puts substantial responsibility on Roger against a Wallabies team that has suddenly rediscovered confidence.
Contepomi Rebuilds the Forward Pack
Argentina’s changes are not limited to the backs.
Efraín Elías and Franco Molina form an entirely new second-row combination, replacing veteran locks Guido Petti and Tomás Lavanini.
Petti does not leave the starting XV, however. Instead, the 100-plus-cap forward moves into the back row, replacing Benjamín Grondona.
Pedro Delgado also comes into the front row at tighthead prop, with Francisco Moreno shifting to the replacements bench.
Those changes give Argentina four new starters compared with the team beaten in Jujuy: Delgado, Elías, Molina and Roger.
The reshuffle appears designed to inject both mobility and fresh energy into a side that struggled to recover after Australia exploded out of the blocks in the first Test.
The Wallabies scored three tries inside the opening quarter in Jujuy and eventually finished with four tries in the 27–21 victory. Argentina fought back, but turnovers and discipline repeatedly undermined their comeback attempt.
Argentina were penalised 14 times — reportedly their highest total in a Test since Contepomi became head coach — while also conceding 18 turnovers.
Against an Australia side becoming increasingly comfortable playing at pace, that level of wastefulness could be even more costly in Mendoza.
Australia Suddenly Has Momentum
The bigger problem for Los Pumas may be what is happening on the other side.
Australia’s victory in Jujuy extended the Wallabies’ winning streak to four matches, their first four-game run since 2021. It also kept Kiss unbeaten through his first three Tests in charge.
And rather than simply asking the same team to finish the job, Kiss has rotated heavily.
Wilson returns as captain and shifts Rob Valetini to blindside flanker, creating a back row completed by Fraser McReight — the standout performer in Jujuy.
Bell, Billy Pollard and Tupou form a completely refreshed front row.
Behind the scrum, Donaldson receives his first Wallabies start of the 2026 season at No.10, while Ikitau returns from an ankle problem to partner Suaalii in midfield. Filipo Daugunu also comes onto the wing.
Full-back Tom Wright, meanwhile, is scheduled to make his 50th Test appearance.
Kiss says the rotation is part of Australia’s attempt to create genuine Test-level depth rather than relying on one preferred XV — a strategy that is increasingly important with the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil approaching.
The Wallabies are therefore trying to achieve two things at once in Mendoza: win a series and accelerate the development of a deeper squad.
Argentina Are Also Building for the Future
Argentina’s selection tells a similar long-term story.
Two uncapped players, Facundo Cardozo and Mateo Soler, have been named among the replacements and could make their Test debuts.
Cardozo was promoted into the squad after veteran centre Matías Moroni suffered a facial injury.
Contepomi has been forced to balance immediate results with a wider rebuilding process, particularly with a number of established Europe-based players unavailable at different stages of the international window.
The 2026 calendar is unusual because the traditional Rugby Championship is not being staged this year, leaving Argentina’s Tests against South Africa and Australia to occupy part of that southern-hemisphere window.
That has turned matches such as Saturday’s into valuable opportunities for Contepomi to expose emerging players to elite international rugby.
The problem is that development becomes much harder when a series is on the line.
Pablo Matera Carries the Responsibility Again
One player providing continuity is Pablo Matera.
With regular captain Julián Montoya unavailable, Matera will once again lead Los Pumas from the back row.
And there is an important statistical correction to some initial reports surrounding the match.
Matera earned his 126th Argentina cap in the first Test in Jujuy, meaning he is set to make his 127th appearance if he starts as selected in Mendoza — not his 126th.
His experience will be critical alongside Petti and No.8 Joaquín Moro as Argentina attempt to control an Australian back row containing Wilson, Valetini and McReight.
Mendoza Has Become Much More Than a Rematch
For Australia, victory would complete what Rugby Australia describes as the Wallabies’ first away series sweep of Argentina.
For Los Pumas, defeat would mean closing their final home Test of 2026 with consecutive losses to the Wallabies. Argentine rugby coverage identifies the Mendoza match as the national team’s final appearance on home soil this year.
Recent history offers Australia a warning.
In 2024, the Wallabies won the opening Test against Argentina 20–19 before being demolished 67–27 in the second encounter — a collapse that remains fresh enough to prevent complacency.
This time, however, Australia arrive in Mendoza with momentum, returning senior players and increased competition for places.
Argentina are betting on something different: fresh forwards, a reshaped back row and a four-cap fly-half asked to control the most important match of the series.
If Roger handles the occasion, Contepomi’s gamble could look inspired.
If he does not, the Wallabies may leave Mendoza having achieved something Australian rugby has been chasing for years — and with their revival under Les Kiss suddenly becoming much harder for the rest of the rugby world to ignore.
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