Nantes hosts an historic match on Saturday, regardless of the result, as it will be the first-ever meeting of two sides from South America at a Rugby World Cup.
The match may be an historic first, but the rivalry is nothing new. Chile and Argentina have faced one another 39 times in tests over 87 years, as well as in numerous uncapped matches. Past results are not on Chile’s side. Argentina have won every one of the two sides’ previous test meetings. But they haven’t played one another in a full international in the past nine years - though Chile warmed up for this tournament with two non-cap matches against an Argentina XV, winning one and losing one, as well as matches against Namibia and Uruguay that did have full test status.
Los Pumas’ head coach Michael Cheika has made 11 changes to his starting XV from the team that beat Samoa 19-10 in their last match, with Marcos Kremer, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Eduardo Bello and Juan Martin González the only four players retaining their places in the run-on team. Nicolás Sánchez, meanwhile, will earn his 100th cap, becoming only the second Argentine to play a century of tests - after hooker Agustín Creevy.
Michael Cheika, head coach explained that the changes to the team to face Chile reflects the competitive nature of the squad: "It's a mix because the entire squad of 33 players is very competitive in every training session. This team, with changes especially in the backs, has the merit to play in a Rugby World Cup. They have the opportunity to play this week, show their ability."
Chile head coach Pablo Lemoine has named his match-day 23 for the team's Pool D game against Argentina on Saturday, 30 September and has made eight changes to his starting 15, including the return of Javier Carrasco in the front row.
Teams:
Argentina: 1 Joel Sclavi, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Eduardo Bello, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 6 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Facundo Isa, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 11 Juan Imhoff, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (c), 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 15 Martín Bogado. Replacements: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Joaquín Oviedo, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia.
Chile: 1 Javier Carrasco, 2 Augusto Bohme, 3 Matias Dittus, 4 Santiago Pedrero, 5 Javier Eissmann, 6 Martín Sigren (c), 7 Clemente Saavedra, 8 Raimundo Martínez, 9 Marcelo Torrealba, 10 Rodrigo Fernandez, 11 José Ignacio Larenas, 12 Matias Garafulic, 13 Domingo Saavedra, 14 Santiago Videla, 15 Inaki Ayarza. Replacements: 16 Tomas Dussaillant, 17 Salvador Lues, 18 Esteban Inostroza, 19 Augusto Sarmiento, 20 Alfonso Escobar, 21 Ignacio Silva, 22 Nicolas Herreros, 23 Francisco Urroz.