Juan Martin Hernandez: Argentina back recalled to face Wales

Juan Martin Hernandez counts Racing 92 and Toulon among his former clubs

Argentina have made three changes to their team to face Wales on Saturday.

The Pumas warmed up for the match in Cardiff with a 50-24 win over Japan, but were without influential utility back Juan Martin Hernandez in Tokyo.

The 34-year-old returns to the team with Ramiro Moyano to form a new centre partnership in place of Jeronimo De la Fuente and Santiago Cordero.

The one change in the pack sees second row Pablo Matera start instead of Tomas Lezana.

Former Cardiff Blues full-back Joaquin Tuculet has welcomed the return of Hernandez to the side.

"He's an amazing player, maybe Argentina's best player in the last ten years. He's a leader and when he plays, the team play differently because he has brilliant skills, he is a very good kicker and he has vision."

Tuculet does not believe it is a good time to face Wales however, after Rob Howley's side were hammered 32-8 by Australia.

"This is the worst moment to play against Wales, they need to play much better, they're under pressure and they're playing in [their own] country so they need to win.

"I know some of the players, they want to change this situation so it's dangerous playing Wales now."

Joaquin Tuculet moved back to Argentina to play for Jaguares after a one-season spell with the Blues

World Cup target

Coach Daniel Hourcade says he is rebuilding his squad after reaching the semi-finals of the 2015 World Cup, thanks to a dazzling 43-20 win over Ireland in Cardiff.

"They are a younger team, the team that went to the World Cup with a really good mix between young and experienced players.

"That's what we expect to get for the [2019] Rugby World Cup in Japan, that's what we're working for and it's our main objective."

Lock Guido Petti pays tribute to Hourcade for bringing a more open attacking style to Argentininian rugby after years of a forward-orientated approach, dependent on a kicking game behind the scrum.

"I think we are going to play the same rugby we keep on playing with speed, we take risks, that's the game we like.

"Maybe before there was a lot of kicking, a lot of defence, not attacking with the ball, and now you realise that without the ball you cannot do anything.

"Daniel Hourcade made a great change in the type of rugby."

Argentina: Joaquin Tuculet; Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Juan Martin Hernandez, Ramiro Moyano; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Lucas Noguera, Agustin Creevy (capt), Ramiro Herrera, Guido Petti, Matias Alemanno, Pablo Matera, Javier Ortega Desio, Facundo Isa.

Replacements: Julian Montoya, Santiago Garcia Botta, Enrique Pieretto, Leonardo Senatore, Tomas Lezana, Tomas Cubelli, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Santiago Cordero.