* Pumas stick with team that lost narrowly to Australia
* Coach says they must avoid faltering in final minutes (Adds detail, quotes)
By Rex Gowar
BUENOS AIRES, Sept 25 (Reuters) – Argentina will be unchanged against New Zealand in their Rugby Championship match in La Plata on Saturday, coach Santiago Phelan said as he picked the same side that lost to Australia.
“Our objective is to improve match by match. In defence the players are full of confidence, we’re getting better and as a consequence the results will follow,” Phelan told reporters after naming his team at their base 45km north of the capital.
“To play this tournament implies effort rather than pressure. I single out the valour, commitment, heart and passion of the team,” he added on Tuesday.
“Saturday’s goal will be to avoid the drain of the final minutes,” said Phelan, whose team were 13 points ahead of the Wallabies before conceding two tries in the final quarter as they lost 23-19 to Australia in the Gold Coast on Sept. 15.
Phelan made two changes to his bench, bringing in prop Marcos Ayerza for Juan Pablo Orlandi and back row forward Tomas Vallejos for Leonardo Senatore.
The Pumas, hosting the match (2310 GMT) in the provincial capital La Plata 60km southeast of Buenos Aires, are looking to beat the world champion All Blacks for the first time and prevent them clinching the trophy with a match to spare.
Continued…
