Ledesma hopes for exciting performance from Argentina

Mario Ledesma hopes Argentina can use the nation’s excitement to their advantage in their Rugby Championship opener against New Zealand.

Argentina will host the All Blacks in Buenos Aires on Saturday, in the first of three games of a tournament shortened due to the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

The clash comes on the back of the Jaguares’ stunning run to the Super Rugby final, where they fell to the Crusaders.

Argentina’s starting line-up for their Rugby Championship opener includes 13 Jaguares and Ledesma hopes his team can deliver.

Estos 15 jugadores entrarán a la cancha el sábado contra @allblacks. El resto del país estará empujando desde afuera. #VamosPumas pic.twitter.com/xKttSSsbTq

— Los Pumas (@lospumas) July 18, 2019

“We have to play with the enthusiasm of the people,” he told a news conference.

“That people are excited is great and we have to take the positive side, but we have to be on and [focus on] how we improve from here to Saturday.”

The All Blacks are unbeaten in 32 previous meetings with Argentina, winning 31 and drawing one.

Argentina: Emiliano Boffelli, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolas Sanchez, Tomas Cubelli; Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy, Juan Figallo, Guido Petti, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer, Javier Ortega Desio.
Replacements: Julian Montoya, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Medrano, Matias Alemanno, Tomas Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Joaquin Tuculet.

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