Italy vs Argentina Prediction: Azzurri can give Pumas the blues

With two wins and a draw in the 2024 Six Nations, Italy look to be on the up and the Azzurri will look forward to another chance to demonstrate their progress when they host Argentina in the Autumn Nations Series on Saturday, November 9 (kick-off 17:40).

Team News

Former Argentina player and assistant coach Gonzalo Quesada has called up rising star Mirco Spagnolo to join Marco Ricconi as the starting props.

Martin Page-relo gets the nod at scrum-half to partner Paolo Garbisi in the half-backs, while there is a dangerous back-three with Ange Capuozzo, Louis Lynagh and Monty Ioane all starting from the off.

As for Argentina, head coach Felipe Contepomi has been forced to make a host of changes from the side that faced South Africa in their 2024 Rugby Championship decider last time out.

Only Tomas Albornoz and Rodrigo Isgro are retained from the side that faced the Springboks, while the likes of Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Mateo Carreras and Tomas Lavanini are all out injured.

Match Odds - Italy vs Argentina

Italy are the 7/5 underdogs to win this game at the Stadio Friuli, while Argentina are 8/13 to come away from Udine with the victory.

A draw is available at 20/1, while the Azzurri are 5/4 to be in front at the half-time whistle.

Italy to win @ 7/5

This is a strong and settled Italy side who are going into this Autumn Nations Series on the back of their strongest-ever Six Nations campaign.

Beating both Wales and Scotland, while also being unlucky not to win their 13-13 draw away in France, the Azzurri have achieved significant progress under Quesada.

If Argentina had been able to name a full-strength side for this game it would have been hard to look past a battled-hardened Pumas side who achieved wins over New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in this year’s Rugby Championship.

However, that is not the case and with so many changes to the starting XV for Argentina, this looks like a great opportunity for Italy to earn their first win over the Pumas since 2008.

A player who has made a bright start to life at Test level, Benetton winger Louis Lynagh is certainly a player worth considering in the anytime tryscorer market.

The son of former Australia fly-half Michael, Lynagh has scored two tries in his five Test matches, including on debut in Italy’s famous 31-29 win over Scotland in Rome.

Expect the former Harlequins star to be a danger in the wide channels and the 23-year-old is well priced to add to his Test try tally this weekend against the Pumas in Udine.

Louis Lynagh anytime tryscorer @ 19/10

Rugby Union Betting Tips from Betfred Insights.