Experienced Argentina to tackle England
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan has made just one change to his World Cup starting line-up against England from the team which took the field in the 28-13 defeat by Wales last month in a build-up match in Cardiff.
In comes Gonzalo Tiesi at outside centre to replace Marcelo Bosch who drops to the bench for the Pool B match in Dunedin on Saturday.
“We think that this game and this moment it is the best team we have and we know we are 30 players and all are in very good condition for playing, but for coaches for this starting XV it is the best players we can put on the field,” Phelan said.
Veteran hooker Mario Ledesma will become the oldest Argentine and the third oldest player from any team to play a World Cup match.
Ledesma will be 38 years and 116 days old on match day and only Mark Cardinal of Canada and Diego Ormaechea of Uruguay have played in the World Cup at a more advanced age.
Another Argentine record will be equalled in this match with captain Felipe Contepomi and Ledesma playing at their fourth World Cup.
Pedro Sporleder and Agustín Pichot are the only Argentine players to have achieved this in the past.
A third member of the current squad, Martín Scelzo, can also equal this record as he has been named on Argentina’s bench for Saturday’s match.
Flyhalf Contepomi, a key figure in France four years ago when the Pumas took third place, said that he was ready to deliver as his side’s skipper.
“I’m feeling a bit older now, four years. It’s a long time ago. I’ve always said that I’m very grateful that rugby gave me a lot and to be able to play my fourth World Cup, it’s an honour and being the captain of your country means a lot and brings a lot of responsibility,” he said.
“We had very good preparation these last two months. Our expectation is to come and play our best and if we can be competitive on Saturday, that will be great and start the tournament as best we can.”
Argentina: 15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Felipe Contepomi (captain), 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Martin Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Marcelo Bosch, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff
Date: Saturday, September 10,
Kick-off: 20.30 ( 08.30 GMT)
Venue: Carisbrook, Dunedin
Referee: Brice Lawrence (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Romain Poite (France), Simon McDowell (Ireland))
TMO: Matt Goddard (Australia)
AFP
