Matias Alemanno’s 100th Argentina cap gives Scotland’s Nations Championship opener a hard edge before kick-off in Cordoba.
Felipe Contepomi has named a seasoned Los Pumas side to face Scotland at Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, with Alemanno set to become the fifth men’s centurion in Argentina history.
The lock starts beside Guido Petti in a pack captained by Julian Montoya, while Pablo Matera, Santiago Grondona and Joaquin Oviedo form a heavy back row. That is a direct challenge to a Scotland eight already carrying its own milestone theme after Pierre Schoeman and Scott Cummings were selected for their 50-cap appearances.
Argentina Team Puts Set-Piece Heat On Scotland
Super Rugby’s official Championship channel confirmed Alemanno will make his 100th appearance, with Montoya listed on 117 caps and Matera on 121. The same announcement also noted Argentina’s recent Murrayfield comeback, when Los Pumas overturned a 21-0 deficit to beat Scotland 33-24 last November.
Scotland’s selection gives Tom Jordan the No 10 shirt, with Ben White inside him and Sione Tuipulotu captaining from midfield. The tactical question is whether Scotland can keep the tempo high enough to move Argentina’s tight five before Montoya’s side turns the match into a collision contest.
For Contepomi, this is more than an opening fixture. Argentina face Wales and England later in July, so a home win over Scotland would immediately frame the Pumas as one of the sharper southern-hemisphere starters in the new tournament.
Source: Super Rugby / The Rugby Championship; Scottish Rugby.
