Match News and Current Form
After losing to England on each of the last two weekends, Argentina will welcome the opportunity to test themselves against different opposition as they look to end a run of five defeats - all against top-five ranked sides - from their last seven games (W2). Los Pumas have never lost to Uruguay and should take confidence from last Saturday’s defeat which saw them go down 17-22, due to a late try, as it was a huge improvement on the 12-35 defeat seven days earlier.
This is Argentina’s final game ahead of their opening Rugby Championship match against New Zealand next month and head coach Felipe Contepomi has freshened up his side with five changes to his XV from last weekend including the return of wing Rodrigo Isgró who missed the second game against England due to a head injury.
It will be a buoyant Uruguay who travel to Salta for this fixture following their 70-8 thrashing of Romania last Saturday, their biggest victory against a fellow Tier 2 team. The result was all the more impressive as it was achieved with a number of players unavailable through injury and los Teros will be targeting a third full-international victory in a row, something they last achieved in 2019!
That will be easier said than done for the visitors though, as they currently sit ten places below Argentina in the World Rugby rankings, but an impressive showing will keep up momentum in the group ahead of their opening 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifying game against Paraguay in Asunción next weekend.
Head-to-Head History
Argentina ran out easy 79-5 winners when the sides last yet in Maldonado 12 months ago!
Across more recent clashes, Argentina have failed to score 20 points on only one occasion and have scored between 40-79 points in four of the last six meetings.
Hot Stats and Streaks
• Argentina have conceded 20+ points in each of their last nine home matches (W3, L6).
• Argentina last lost to a Tier 2 side in November 2020.
• Uruguay have conceded 36+ points in their last three away matches versus Tier 1 nations (L3).
• Uruguay have posted the first points of the game in each of their last three matches (W2, L1).
Key Players to Watch and Missing Players
Joaquín Moro has come off the bench in his last two international appearances but he returns to the XV against a side who he scored two tries against in 2024. Winger Bautista Basso crossed the line in both halves against Romania and looks likely to be one of Uruguay’s best hopes for getting points on the board in this clash.
Argentina are back to full strength for this game while Uruguay are without hooker Guillermo Pujadas as well as Agustín Morales and Juan Manuel Rodriguez from the second-row.
Betting Analysis
Backing a home win but with Uruguay to score the first points is not a ridiculous tip as Argentina conceded the first points in both matches against England while los Teros have been on the scoreboard no later than the seventh minute in their last three fixtures.