Coach Felipe Contepomi has made five changes to Argentina’s starting lineup for Sunday’s match against Scotland at Murrayfield.

Santiago Carreras has been dropped to the bench, having been on target with all eight of his goal kicks as Argentina enjoyed a record 52-28 win against Wales in Cardiff last weekend.

But such is the Pumas’ strength in depth, the Bath star has been replaced at fullback by Juan Cruz Mallia – another impressive performer from a recent Rugby Championship campaign where Argentina beat the Wallabies and All Blacks.

Mallia is one of two Los Pumas players set to win their 50th caps in this weekend’s clash, along with openside flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez.

Elsewhere in the backline, Rodrigo Isgro replaces Bautista Delguy on the right wing and Matias Moroni comes in for Justo Piccardo at outside centre.

In the pack, Pedro Rubiolo starts in the second row in place of Marcos Kremer.

There is no place at all for Kremer in the match 23, meaning he will not feature at a ground where he was sent off during the Pumas’ last visit to Edinburgh in 2022 – a 52-29 loss.

Loose forward Santiago Grondona, who came off the bench to score Argentina’s seventh and final try against Wales, has changed places with Pablo Matera for a match that sees the Pumas, sixth in the world rankings, facing the eighth-placed Scots.

But veteran hooker Julian Montoya continues as captain.

ARGENTINA – 15 Juan Cruz Mallía, 14 Rodrigo Isgró, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Gerónimo Prisciantelli, 9 Simón Benítez Cruz, 8 Joaquín Oviedo, 7 Juan Martín González, 6 Santiago Grondona, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Pedro Delgado, 2 Julián Montoya (c), 1 Mayco Vivas.
Bench: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Thomas Gallo, 18 Francisco Coria Marchetti, 19 Efraín Elías, 20 Pablo Matera, 21 Agustín Moyano, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Justo Piccardo.

Weekend teams

Photo: David Rogers/Getty Images