Preview: Argentina v French BaaBaas
Both Argentina and the French Barbarians made multiple changes to their teams for the second and last match in their Rugby Championship warm-up series in La Plata on Friday.
The Argentinian team that lost 22-28 to the BaaBaas in Rosario last Saturday shows eight changes. And the French outfit shows 10 changes.
In the Pumas forwards Lucas Noguera retains his place in the front row – where he will be joined by Julian Montoya and Matias Diaz.
In the second row Guido Petti Pagadizabal will partner Tomás Lavanini.
The back row consists of Pablo Mater, Javier Ortega Desio and Facundo Isa.
Martín Landajo, who captains the side, will partner Santiago González Iglesias as the halfbacks – the midfield consisting of Juan Pablo Socino and Jerónimo De la Fuente.
The back three are Tomás Carrió and Matías Moroni on the wings, with Román Miralles at No.15.
The 10 changes in the BaaBaas side is the result of an undertaking that every player will get a run in the two-match series.
Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade said they have two main objectives in their final outing ahead of the trip to New Zealand for the opening Rugby Championship encounter with New Zealand in Christchurch on July 17.
"We must improve the bad image we created in last week's loss," Hourcade said.
"We failed to adapt to the game the opposition played and allowed them to impose their style on us.
"We made too many unforced infringements and conceded too many penalties, which we must correct.
The coach said the game will also be a kind of trial.
"We also want to create a winning culture and continue to evaluate certain players," he added.
"We will finalise the tour squad ahead of the trip to New Zealand. There are many who are candidates to travel, but unfortunately some will have to stay home and the game will help us resolve any doubts we have."
Teams:
Argentina: 15 Román Miralles, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Tomás Carrió, 10 Santiago González Iglesias, 9 Martín Landajo (captain), 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal, 3 Matías Díaz, 2 Julián Montoya, 1 Lucas Noguera Paz.
Replacements: 16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Benjamín Macome, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Lucas González Amorosino.
French Barbarians: 15 Geoffrey Palis, 14 Benjamin Lapeyre, 13 Henry Chavancy, 12 Jonathan Danty, 11 Silvere Tian, 10 Benjamín Urdapilleta, 9 Jerome Fillol (captain), 8 Virgile Bruni, 7 Pierre Rabadan, 6 Antoine Burban, 5 Arnaud Mela, 4 Thibault Lassalle, 3 Jean Baptiste Poux, 2 Brice Mach, 1 Antoine Tichit.
Replacements: 16 JeanCharles Orioli, 17 Lucas Pointud, 18 Walter Desmaison, 19 Jocelino Suta, 20 Julien Tastet, 21 Heini Adams, 22 Julien Rey, 23 Gilles Bosch.
Date: Friday, June 26
Venue: La Plata Rugby Club, Buenos Aires
Kick-off: 18.30 (23.30 France; 21.30 GMT)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Angus Gardner (Australia), Joaquín Montes (Uruguay)
TMO: Pablo Deluca (Argentina)
