2011 Rugby World Cup Pool B Match Preview: Argentina vs Georgia
Argentina’s national Rugby Union team, commonly known as Los Pumas, will be eyeing a bonus point victory over Georgia to confirm their spot in the final eight of the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC). Argentina will play their last pool match of the 2011 Rugby
World Cup against the European minnows, Georgia, at Arena Manawatu, Palmerston North on Sunday, October 2. Sunday’s game is the last pool B game for both teams.
Los Pumas head coach, Santiago Phelan, has made a few changes in his starting lineup for their weekend encounter. Phelan has named Lucas Amorosino at the fullback position, in place of Martín Rodríguez, who will start the game from the bench. Amorosino’s
exceptional performance, including his all-important try has earned him a place in the Pumas starting xv.
Argentina will be without the services of Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, who is left out of the match day squad due to an injury which he sustained earlier. Leonardo Senatore will start the match at the number eight position in place of Lobbe.
Juan Jose Imhoff will start the match at the winger position in place of the Gonazalo Camacho, who has been dropped from the match-day 22 altogether. In the forwards pack, lock Manuel Carizza is dropped from the squad making way for Mariano Galarza in the
starting lineup.
Meanwhile, Georgia has made six changes in their squad, which handed over a 25 – 9 defeat to their European rivals, Romania, a few days ago.
Georgia’s head coach, Richie Dixon, is hopeful that his team will end their tournament campaign on a strong note. He has named Malkhaz Urjukashvili at the fullback position in place of Lasha Khmaladze. Lekso Gugava is moved to the right-winger position.
Khmaladze is moved to the fly half position in place of Merab Kvirikashvili, who scored 17 points for Georgia in their 16-point win over the Romanians. The duo of Vasil Kakovin and Akvsenti Giorgadze will start Sunday’s match in the front row.
Dimitri Basilaia is dropped from the match-day 22 and is replaced by Viktor Koleishvili in the back row forwards. Additionally, Levan Datunashvili will start the match at the lock position.
The encounter promises to be a battle in the scrum, however, Pumas are more likely to come out as the winner by defeating Georgia by more than a 7 point deficit.
The complete squad listing of both sides is given below,
Georgia
Starting XV: Malkhaz Urjukashvili; Lekso Gugava, David Kacharava, Tedo Zibzibadze, Alexander Todua; Lasha Khmaladze, Irakli Abuseridze (capt); Vasil Kakovin, Akvsenti Giorgadze, David Zirakashvili; Levan Datunashvili, Vakhtang Maisuradze;
Giorgi Chkhaidze, Viktor Kolelishvili, Mamuka Gorgodze.
Replacements: Jaba Bregvadze, Goderdzi Shvelidze, Giorgi Nemsadze, Ilia Zedginidze, Bidzina Samkharadze, Merab Kvirikashvili, Lasha Malaguradze.
Argentina
Starting XV: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Felipe Contepomi (c), 11 Juan Jose Imhoff, 10 Santiago Fernández, 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 6 Julio Farias Cabello,
5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Mariano Galarza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma Arocena, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Martín Scelzo, 18 Tomas Vallejos, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Agustín Gosio, 22 Martín Rodríguez.
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