If Argentina can afford to omit one of the Guinness Premiership’s form players, Marcos Ayerza, from their starting XV against England at Twickenham on Saturday, then they have riches indeed in their front row.

England would kill for an Ayerza of their own just now, but Argentina still prefer their grizzled veterans, who have an average age of 34 and more than 150 internationals between them.

Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma and Martín Scelzo have been around the international block several times and Ledesma, the oldest of the trio at 36, is one of the great characters of world rugby. They bring to the Pumas the experience so markedly lacking at half back, where Alfredo Lalanne and Santiago Fernández boast six caps between them. Indeed, Fernández could be said to be Argentina’s fourth choice at fly half because injury has deprived them of Juan Martín Hernández, Felipe Contepomi and Marcelo Bosch, the Biarritz utility back.

Fernández, 23, made his international debut last year against Italy but he did appear against England during the summer, as a centre in Salta and off the bench at Old Trafford. So he knows what to expect, as does Lalanne, 26, of London Irish, who played scrum half in Salta.

But injuries have also robbed Argentina of two more backs based in the Premiership: Lucas Amorosino, of Leicester, and Gonzalo Camacho, of Harlequins. They have made seven changes from the XV who won 24-22 in Salta and will give international debuts to Martin Rodríguez in the centre and Mauro Comuzzi on the left wing. Both played in the previous outing the Pumas had together, the comfortable win over the French Barbarians in Buenos Aires in June.

Two thirds of the back row, Tomás Leonardi and Alfredo Abadie, make their first appearances against a senior country after playing in the South American championship, but between them looms the formidable figure of Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, the captain. Fernández Lobbe knows England well from his days with Sale Sharks and plays alongside Jonny Wilkinson for Toulon, so his input will be vital.