Los Pumas make six changes for England clash

Argentina have made six changes to the starting XV that beat the British and Irish Lions for the first time, as they prepare to welcome England to La Plata on Saturday for the first of two Tests in July,

Santiago Carreras will switch from fullback to flyhalf in a reshuffled backline, with debutant Benjamin Elizalde coming into his place alongside Santiago Cordero and Rodrigo Isgro.

Argentina stunned the British & Irish Lions with a 28-24 victory in Dublin last month but, having rested several players for that encounter, coach Felipe Contepomi has made three backline changes and three in the forward pack.

Gonzalo Bertranou returns at scrumhalf to partner Carreras in the half-back pairing, with Justo Piccardo and Lucio Cinti, who enjoyed strong outings in Dublin, will keep their place in the midfield.

Facundo Isa comes into the team at Number Eight after an 18-month sabbatical from the side and packs down with flankers Pablo Matera and Juan Martin Gonzalez, while Lucas Paulos is a new addition in the second row alongside Pedro Rubiolo.

Captain Julian Montoya will have props Mayco Vivas and Pedro Delgado either side of him in the front row of the scrum, with the latter replacing Joel Sclavi.

Flyhalf Nicolas Roger could make his debut off the bench - with Contepomi wisely using this series against an understrength Steve Borthwick outfit to blood new players ahead of a particularly difficult Rugby Championship campaign.

The Rugby Championship will see the Pumas host New Zealand twice on home soil, travel to face Australia twice, and face South Africa in Durban and Twickenham.