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Cheika includes debutants as Argentina legend approaches record
By Grant Constable
Argentina head coach Michael Cheika has announced the 23-man squad for their Pool D clash against Chile at Stade de la Beaujoire in Nantes on Saturday, 30 September.
The lineup is a mix of experience and debutants, with Rodrigo Isgro and Martín Bogado starting, while Ignacio Ruiz and Joaquín Oviedo are poised to make their Rugby World Cup debuts from the bench.
Cheika has made 11 changes to the starting XV compared to the previous match, with only Marcos Kremer, Guido Petti, Eduardo Bello, and Juan Martin González retaining their spots. Kremer and González will be the sole players to start in all three games of RWC 2023.
The starting XV includes three of Argentina's most capped players, Agustín Creevy, Nicolás Sánchez, and Tomás Cubelli.
Additionally, six players in the lineup are aged 30 or older, including Agustín Creevy, who is set to equal Mario Ledesma Arocena as Argentina's most capped Rugby World Cup player in his 18th match. Creevy is the fourth oldest player to participate in a Rugby World Cup game.
Nicolás Sánchez will earn his 100th cap, becoming the second Argentine to reach this milestone. He is also Argentina's all-time leading point-scorer (872) and needs 16 more points to become their all-time leading Rugby World Cup point-scorer.
ARGENTINA TEAM TO FACE CHILE IN NANTES
1 Joel Sclavi
2 Agustín Creevy
3 Eduardo Bello
4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal
5 Pedro Rubiolo
6 Juan Martin Gonzalez
7 Marcos Kremer
8 Facundo Isa
9 Tomas Cubelli
10 Nicolas Sanchez
11 Juan Imhoff
12 Jeronimo de la Fuente (c)
13 Lucio Cinti
14 Rodrigo Isgro
15 Martín Bogado
Replacements:
16 Ignacio Ruiz
17 Mayco Vivas
18 Francisco Gómez Kodela
19 Matias Alemanno
20 Joaquín Oviedo
21 Lautaro Bazan Velez
22 Santiago Carreras
23 Juan Cruz Mallia
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Latest Comments
Who, Berry?! His rudeness to Kolisi, our freaking captain, was there for all to see!! Utterly disgraceful.
Erm, I only had one statement - as in 'only one full stop' so not sure where the 'irrelevance' comes in?
Go to commentsLet's be clear: Foster did not back unaquivocally players such as Vaa'i, Tamaiti and Roigard. Yes, he selected them in the squad, but it's a stretch to say he backed them. Those three players have only been backed fully this year (and thrived) under the new regime. There was massive hesitation to give those three guys serious game time in games of consequence.
It's another not-so-subtle dig from the old dynasty at any achievements Razor may be credited for.
Roigard in particular was a mind-baffling omission from the finals of the WC. After being the AB's best player against SA in the pre-WC match, he was not sighted in the big games that followed. Roigard is the type of guy who can win a game with a moment of brilliance, yet the established but uninspiring Christie was preferred to close out a close WC final.
So please, Fozzie, spare us the barely veiled laments about your unfair treatment and unseen achievements. The fact you feel you have to point them out is telling in itself. And it shows that despite saying you've moved on, you and your mate Hansen most definitely haven't.
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