Recalled: Felipe Contepomi
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Veteran Felipe Contepomi has been recalled to Argentina's side for Saturday's clash with Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
The 35-year-old sat out the Rugby Championship due to an agreement between the Argentinian Rugby Union (UAR) and his French club, Stade Francais, and was not named in Santiago Phelan's original touring squad.
However with Biarritz centre Marcelo Bosch unavailable due to his own club commitments this weekend, Contepomi comes back into Phelan's starting XV to win his 79th cap.
He is one of six changes and two positional switches from the defeat to Australia last time out.
Former Harlequins and Stade Francais centre Gonzalo Tiesi will make his first appearance since the 2011 World Cup, while fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez has been shifted to full-back.
Instead Bordeaux-Begles' Nicolas Sanchez has been preferred by coach Phelan in the number 10 role.
Lock Patricio Albacete is an injury absentee after suffering a fracture near his eye, with flanker Julio Farias Cabello moving into the second row to partner Manuel Carizza. Leonardo Senatore coming into the back row.
In the front row Leicester's Marcos Ayerza benefits from the retirement of Rodrigo Roncero and the absence of Gomez Kodela to start on the loosehead side of the scrum.
There is Aviva Premiership representation on the wing with Exeter Gonzalo Camacho selected to start, although Bath's Horacia Agulla has to make do with a seat on the bench.
Argentina: 15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Leonardo Senatore, 5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Juan Gomez, 19 Tomas Vallejos Cinalli, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Nicolas Vergallo, 22 Horacio Agulla, 23 Joaquin Tuculet.
Date: Saturday, 10 November
Venue: Millennium Stadium
Kick-off: 14:30 GMT
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)
Television match official: Jim Yuille (Scotland)
Comments
Lucasrg says...
@ You should know that it his favorite position...and he played ad 15 a LOT!!!
This is exactly what I wanted to see, El Mago at 15 and young Sanchez at 10.
Albacete will be missed but I'm looking forward to see Farias Cabello in the tight five. He is something I was really impressed during the RC.
Yeah melkdave, Bosh and Albacete got caged by their respective clubs.
I'll be not surprise if Argentina will use a lot of Blitz defence on the 13-Wing channels as they are no match for the Wales heavy flyers.
Posted 19:24 07th November 2012
jimbosim says...
Wales by 15?
Posted 18:15 07th November 2012
makemehappy says...
No surprise to see Hernandex at 15 - world class there, but just a good player at 10.
Posted 13:12 07th November 2012
melkdave says...
Well i have to say myself i prefer N.Sanchez at 10 than Hernandez,he offers more of a threat imo,as he has a running game.He also seems to be the future at 10 atm for the pumas..I would also like Bosch to be there ,but alas not possible it seems atm.A bit apprehensive about this match against Wales.i feel Argentina will nick it by 3-6 points ,as a few key welsh players dont seem to be inform or performing,as they can.
Posted 12:16 07th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Will they be the same without Roncero and Albecete? Probably yes as the team unity and ethic is so strong.
Posted 09:14 07th November 2012
kappelange says...
Hernandez at fulback...?
not a fan of it, i know he started off as one but he's the best 10 they've got.
What happened to Amorosino?
Posted 08:55 07th November 2012
PREEST says...
Interesting that Hernandez moves out to 15. I guess it is his favoured position. And where is Aromosino?? Is it just me that thinks he is the best attacking back in the Pumas? The try he scored against the Scots in the RWC was amazing, and the break he made against the ABs in the second test to set up that try was incredible. Has a brilliant running game, and looks good with ball in hand.
Posted 07:10 07th November 2012
side_stepper says...
How two experinced midfielders can make the team list more interesting. Would have preferred Bosch somewhere there though..wonder who's captain??
Posted 07:07 07th November 2012