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Argentina make one change for France as stars return to bench
By Josh Raisey
Argentina have made one change to their starting XV to the side that narrowly lost to Ireland on Friday for their encounter with France in their final match of their Autumn Nations Series campaign.
Scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou has dropped out of the squad completely after starting at the Aviva Stadium, with his replacement in Dublin, Gonzalo Garcia, taking the No 9 shirt.
Benetton scrum-half Lautaro Bazán Velez has been named among the substitutes by Felipe Contepomi in what is a strong bench.
The Pumas have welcomed back veterans Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras for the first time in November for the match on Friday night. The pair will start on the bench in Paris.
Kremer has been out with a knee injury since Argentina's victory over South Africa in the penultimate round of The Rugby Championship, while Carreras has been absent for personal reasons.
Argentina came agonisingly close to beating Ireland last week, with a knock-on scuppering their chances of victory when they were camped in Ireland's 22 in the final play of the game.
They will be looking to end 2024 on a high in what will be their third encounter of the year with Les Bleus. With both sides coming away victorious in the two-Test series in July, the match at the Stade de France will be the decider.
Argentina XV
1. Thomas Gallo (34 caps)
2. Julián Montoya (104 caps) - captain
3. Joel Sclavi (26 caps)
4. Guido Petti (86 caps)
5. Pedro Rubiolo (19 caps)
6. Pablo Matera (108 caps) - vice-captain
7. Juan Martín González (39 caps)
8. Joaquín Oviedo (12 caps)
9. Gonzalo García (10 caps)
10. Tomás Albornoz (16 caps)
11. Bautista Delguy (32 caps)
12. Matías Moroni (88 caps)
13. Lucio Cinti (31 caps)
14. Rodrigo Isgró (6 caps)
15. Juan Cruz Mallía (41 caps) - vice-captain
Replacements
16. Ignacio Ruiz (17 caps)
17. Ignacio Calles (7 caps)
18. Francisco Gómez Kodela (40 caps)
19. Franco Molina (11 caps)
20. Marcos Kremer (72 caps)
21. Lautaro Bazán Vélez (17 caps)
22. Santiago Carreras (52 caps)
23. Mateo Carreras (26 caps)
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Latest Comments
Hopefully Joe stays where he is. That would mean Les, McKellar, larkham and Cron should as well. It’s the stability we need in the state programs. But, if Joe goes, RA with its current financial situation will be forced into promoting from within. And this will likely destabilise other areas.
To better understand some of the entrenched bitterness of those outside of NZ and NSW (as an example 😂), Nic, there is probably a comparison to the old hard heads of welsh rugby who are still stuck in the 1970s. Before the days where clubs merged, professionalism started, and the many sharp knives were put into the backs of those who loved the game more than everyone else. I’m sure you know a few... But given your comparison of rugby in both wales and Australia, there are a few north of the tweed that will never trust a kiwi or NSWelshman because of historical events and issues over the history of the game. It is what it is. For some, time does not heal all wounds. And it is still festering away in some people. Happy holidays to you. All the best in 2025.
Go to commentsNot surprised to see Barretts rating. He has always been a solid defender for the ABs but not particularly effective in attack situations.
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