Overview
- Contepomi confirmed five changes to the starting XV on Thursday, with several moves forced by injuries to Julián Montoya (head knock), Marcos Kremer (right ankle sprain) and Juan Cruz Mallía (knee).
- Pablo Matera returns as captain and will play at number six as part of a leadership shift aimed at steadying the pack.
- Bautista Bernasconi starts at hooker for the unavailable Montoya while Joaquín Moro and Juan Martín Scelzo take Kremer's back-row spots and Juan Martín González moves to the bench.
- Simón Benítez Cruz replaces Gonzalo García at scrum-half, Rodrigo Isgró comes in on the wing and Bautista Delguy shifts to fullback, with Facundo Bosch and Facundo Isa returning among the replacements.
- Argentina travel to play Italy at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on Saturday with the match televised on ESPN and Disney Plus and then face France in Paris on Nov. 21 before the Nations Championship finals at Twickenham later in November; Italy arrives after its 66-7 loss to South Africa and Argentina hold a strong 18-5-1 historical edge over Italy.