Santiago Phelan announces Argentina’s match 22 for Rugby World Cup opener – Rugby News
Argentinean national Rugby Union team, commonly known as the Los Pumas, has announced their match day squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) opening encounter against England. Pumas head coach Santiago Phelan has announced his strongest possible squad for their weekend encounter against England on Tuesday, September 6.
England and Argentina are placed in the Pool B of the 2011 RWC, and will kick start their 2011 RWC campaign at Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin on Saturday, September 10.
Phelan has made one change in the starting xv of the Pumas, which took to the field in their last international game against Wales at Millennium Stadium on Saturday, August 20.
Commenting on the finalised squad, Phelan said, “We think that for this game and this moment it is the best team we have.” He further added, “We know we have 30 players and all are in very good condition for playing, but this starting XV is the best players we can put on the field.”
The change includes the return of the Gonzalo Tiesi in the backs pack in place of Marcelo Bosch. Tiesi will start the match at the outside centre position in place of Bosch who will start the match from the bench.
In addition to this, Phelan made a surprise move in which he has preferred the likes of the relatively inexperienced prop, Juan Figallo, over the veteran front row forward Martin Scelzo in the starting xv. Scelzo will start the match from the bench. Saturday’s game will mark his fourth appearance in the RWC tournament.
Commenting on the selection of Figallo ahead of Scelzo in the starting xv, Phelan added, “We know he is a young player but he is developing very well. He had a very good year in Montpellier and we think he is the best option for the right prop and also he can play left so Figallo is a very good option.”
Furthermore, Veteran hooker Mario Ledesma ,at the age of 38 years and 116 days, will enter the record books as the oldest Argentinean to play a RWC match.
The Pumas squad for their Saturday encounter against the England consists of,
Starting XV: 15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Felipe Contepomi, 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Julio Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Martin Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Marcelo Bosch, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff.
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