Argentina to rely on experience
2008-08-06 21:03
Johannesburg - Argentina have selected 10 of their squad that finished third in the World Cup tournament in France last year for Saturday's Mandela Tribute Test against South Africa at Coca Cola Park.
Their pack, in particular, with seven forwards who played in the World Cup tournament, will ask some questions of the Springboks. Tighthead prop Pedro Ledesma is the only forward that did not play in the World Cup.
The experienced team, with hooker Mario Ledesma the most-capped with 64 Tests to his credit, will be captained by the brilliant flyhalf Felipe Contepome.
With the recent retirement of inspirational scrumhalf Agustin Pichot from rugby, the Pumas still had the luxury of selecting the experienced Nicolas Vergallo who has played in 24 Tests to succeed him.
The team:
Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Pedro Ledesma, Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, Patricio Albacete, Martin Durand, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Nicolas Vergallo, Felipe Contepomi (captain), Horacio Agulla, Miguel Avramovic, Federico Martin Aramburu, Jose Maria Nunez Piossek, Bernardo Stortoni
The replacements:
Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Marcos Ayerza, Esteban Lozada, Alvaro Galindo, Alfredo Lalanne, Benjamin Urdapilleta, Rafael Carballo
- SAPA