SYDNEY, Nov 19 (Reuters) - Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has kept faith with the players who beat the All Blacks for the first time last Saturday, making no changes to his starting line-up for this weekend's Tri-Nations match against Australia in Newcastle.
The Pumas stunned the rugby world with their 25-15 victory over New Zealand in their first test for more than a year last week and Ledesma has restricted himself to tweaking his bench for Saturday's match at Hunter Stadium.
Bulldozing blindside flanker Pablo Matera will again captain the side and the experienced Nicolas Sanchez retains the number 10 shirt after scoring all of Argentina's points against the All Blacks at Western Sydney Stadium.
In the replacements, Santiago Socino replaces Facundo Bosch as back-up for starting hooker Julian Montoya, while Toulon's Facundo Isa looks set to win his first cap since August 2019 after being named as back row cover instead of Tomas Lezana.
Lucio Cinti, who failed to get on the pitch to win his first cap last week, drops out of the matchday squad with Emiliano Boffelli covering for the outside backs and potentially offering a long-range kicking option.
The Tri-Nations replaced the Rugby Championship this year after world champions South Africa withdrew and Argentina's win last week blew open the race for the title.
A win for either side on Saturday will move them above New Zealand to the top of the standings.
Team: 15-Santiago Carreras, 14-Bautista Delguy, 13-Matias Orlando, 12-Santiago Chocobares, 11-Juan Imhoff, 10-Nicolas Sanchez, 9-Tomas Cubelli, 8-Rodrigo Bruni, 7-Marcos Kremer, 6-Pablo Matera (captain), 5-Matias Alemanno, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2-Julian Montoya, 1-Nahuel Tetaz Chapparo
Replacements: 16-Santiago Socino, 17-Mayco Vivas, 18-Santiago Medrano, 19-Santiago Grondona, 20-Facundo Isa, 21-Gonzalo Bertranou, 22-Emiliano Boffelli, 23-Santiago Cordero