Ledesma reveals Los Pumas team for France clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina have turned to mercurial Stade Francais flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez to pull the strings for Los Pumas’ opening World Cup Pool C match against France on Saturday.
Sanchez has a ream of French experience, having also played for Stade’s Top 14 rivals Bordeaux-Begles and Toulon over four seasons before linking up briefly with the Jaguares in Super Rugby.
Argentina will be skippered by marauding flank Pablo Matera in a strong-looking pack that sees Saracens’ Juan Figallo starting at tighthead prop.
The third player in Argentina’s 31-man squad attached to a club outside the South American country is also included, as coach Pablo Ledesma named goalkicking Castres playmaker Benjamin Urdapilleta on the bench.
The rest of the matchday team play for the Jaguares, who made it to the Super Rugby Final in July, going down 3-19 to the Crusaders.
¡Equipo confirmado para enfrentar a @francerugby! ¡Se viene el primer desafío de la #RWC2019! #VamosPumas pic.twitter.com/M5iADaEc7B
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) September 19, 2019
Argentina: 15 Emiliano Boffelli, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 7 Marcos Kremer, 6 Pablo Matera (captain), 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Mayco Vivas, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Matias Alemanno, 20 Tomas Lezana, 21 Felipe Ezcurra, 22 Benjamin Urdapilleta, 23 Santiago Carreras.
Date: Saturday, September 21
Venue: Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo
Kick-off: 16.15 (04.15 Argentina time; 07.15 GMT; 09.15 France time)
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper (South Africa), Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Marius Jonker (South Africa)
