Moroni moves into the centre for Argentina against Ireland

Juan Martín Hernández partners Moroni in midfield as Nicolas Sanchez returns at 10

Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez returns for their quarter-final against Ireland on Sunday. Photograph: PA
Argentina’s Nicolas Sanchez returns for their quarter-final against Ireland on Sunday. Photograph: PA

Argentina have switched winger Matias Moroni to outside centre in place of the suspended Marcelo Bosch for their Rugby World Cup quarter-final against Ireland on Sunday.

Juan Martin Hernandez moves back to inside centre to make way for the return of flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez, while Martin Landajo is preferred to Tomas Cubelli at scrumhalf.

"We believe this is our best team to face this match," coach Daniel Hourcade told the Argentine Rugby Union on Friday, adding that Ireland had proved at the World Cup that they are clearly the best team in Europe.

“They have a style similar to the southern hemisphere teams, committing few people in the contact areas and being accustomed to having the ball a lot of the time,” Hourcade added.

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“They have great ball winning, a fantastic lineout, they are very patient, play well, don’t get desperate.”

Argentina have beaten Ireland in two of their three World Cup meetings.

“Those are statistics that have no influence, the players don’t have them on their minds,” Hourcade said.

“There are other types of statistics that matter, like Ireland having above 60 per cent of possession in all their recent matches and 70 in one half against France.”

Veteran back-row forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon has not recovered from injury and was left out of the squad for the match at the Millennium Stadium.

Argentina: Tuculet, Cordero, Moroni, Hernandez, Imhoff, Sanchez, Landajo, Ayerza, Creevy (c), Herrera, Petti, Lavanini, Matera, Fernandez-Lobbe, Senatore.

Replacements: Montoya, Noguera, Orlandi, Alemanno, Isa, Cubelli, De La Fuente, Amorosino