LONDON (AP) — Argentina is entrusting the wheel to rookie flyhalf Gerónimo Prisciantelli against South Africa in the Rugby Championship decider at Twickenham on Saturday.
The Springboks can clinch back-to-back Rugby Championship titles.
The Pumas are out of contention but keen to save face after a 67-30 hiding from South Africa last weekend in Durban.
They reacted by making seven changes and two positional moves to the starting XV.
Santiago Carreras was switched from flyhalf to his natural position at fullback, bumping Juan Cruz Mallía to the wing at the expense of Mateo Carreras. Flyhalf backup Tomas Albornoz was injured.
Given the No. 10 jersey was Prisciantelli, who has been with the Pumas all year but whose only previous test experience was seven minutes off the bench in a loss to Australia in Townsville a month ago. Prisciantelli has mainly played fullback for Zebre in Italy and has been signed by Racing 92 in France.
“Gero is a very brave and daring player. Sometimes he's too brave. These are the opportunities any player wants,” Pumas coach Felipe Contepomi said on Thursday.
“You have to put it in context: He's playing against the best team in the world and a top 10 (Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu), it's not easy. But we have complete confidence in him. Even though he hasn't played that many games, it's his preparation and understanding of what the team wants to do.”
Only the front row was untouched by Contepomi.
Guido Petti and Pedro Rubiolo are the new second row, No. 8 Santiago Grondona plays his first test since July, and scrumhalf Simón Benitez Cruz starts after Gonzalo García was injured.
Justin Piccardo at outside center and Bautista Delguy on the wing also came in.
The relatively inexperienced bench was 6-2 again.
South Africa named its team on Tuesday and the only change among the starters was the return of prop Ox Nche.
Argentina: Santiago Carreras, Bautista Delguy, Justo Piccardo, Santiago Chocobares, Juan Cruz Mallía, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, Simón Benítez Cruz; Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Pedro Rubiolo, Guido Petti, Joel Sclavi, Julian Montoya (captain), Mayco Vivas. Reserves: Ignacio Ruiz, Boris Wenger, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Franco Molina, Juan Gonzalez, Joaquin Oviedo, Agustin Moyano, Rodrigo Isgró.
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
Argentina's players leave the field following a rugby championship test match between South Africa and Argentina, in Durban, South Africa, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Brent Rooker homered twice and had a career-high six RBIs, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning that gave the Athletics a 12-10 victory over the Houston Astros on Sunday.
Tyler Soderstrom hit a bases-loaded triple and scored three times for the Athletics, who rebounded from an 11-0 defeat Saturday and took two of three games from Houston for their first series win this season.
Shaking off a cold start at the plate, Rooker launched his first homer of the year in the seventh. The two-run shot snapped a 5-all tie and sparked a four-run inning. It was his 100th homer with the A’s, who finished with 16 hits.
Houston pulled even with four runs in the eighth. Jake Meyers homered, Jose Altuve had an RBI double and Cam Smith tied it at 9 with a two-run single.
Carlos Correa gave the Astros a 10-9 lead with an RBI single in the 10th before Rooker connected against Bryan Abreu (0-1).
Yordan Alvarez and Christian Walker each had a two-run homer for Houston.
Elvis Alvarado (1-0) got two outs for the win. Athletics starter Jacob Lopez struck out six in 4 1/3 innings. He allowed three hits, three runs and five walks.
Lance McCullers Jr. gave up three runs and five hits in four innings for the Astros.
The Astros continue their 10-game trip Monday at Colorado, where Rockies RHP Ryan Feltner (0-0, 0.00 ERA) gets the ball. Houston had not announced a scheduled starter to replace RHP Hunter Brown (1-0, 0.84), who was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right shoulder strain.
The Athletics have an off day Monday before facing the Yankees in the Bronx on Tuesday night. RHP Aaron Civale (1-0, 3.60 ERA) pitches against New York RHP Cam Schlittler (2-0, 0.00).
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Houston Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. throws to the Athletics during the second inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Athletics' Tyler Soderstrom (21) hits a three-run triple during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 5, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Houston Astros catcher Yainer Diaz (21) attempts to get Athletics' Max Muncy (3) out at home during the seventh inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 5, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Athletics' Lawrence Butler, left, and Max Muncy dump Gatorade on Brent Rooker, right, after he hit a walk-off three-run home run during the tenth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Sunday, April 5, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Athletics' Brent Rooker runs the bases after hitting a walk-off three-run home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros Sunday, April 5, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
