Saturday, June 9, 2012

TEST RUGBY: Italy in Argentina

09.06.2012 Italy v Argentina in San Juan

Venue: Estadio del Bicentenario

Referee: Jerome Garces (France)

Preview
The disappointment surrounding this test match is that Argentina will not be fielding their to side. A number of players are still involved in finals of the French club rugby scene. It will not be until August, and Argentina’s participation in the Rugby Championship, that we should see their strongest possible team.
Italy has arrived in Argentina with possibly their strongest squad. They will go on to play rugby test matches against Canada and the USA.

Last Five Encounters 13.11.2010 Argentina 22-16 in Verona
15.11.2008 Argentina 22-14 in Turin
28.06.2008 Italy 13-12 in Cordoba
09.06.2007 Argentina 24-6 in Mendoza
18.11.2006 Argentina 23-16 in Rome
Argentina has historically the edge over the Italians but I suspect Argentina will struggle against a vastly more experienced side.

Argentina Last Five
26.05.2012 v Chile W 59-6 in Santiago (CONSUR A)
23.05.2012 v Brazil W 110-0 in Santiago (CONSUR A)
20.05.2012 v Uruguay W 40-4 in Santiago (CONSUR A)
02.10.2011 v Georgia W 25-6 in Palmerston North
25.09.2011 v Scotland W 13-12 in Wellington

Not a lot can be taken from the first three results. Although awarded test ‘caps’ the team was probably their third team.

Italy Last Five 17.03.2012 v Scotland W 13-6 in Rome (6 Nations)
10.03.2012 v Wales L 3-24 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
25.02.2012 v Ireland L 10-42 in Dublin (6 Nations)
11.02.2012 v England L 15-19 in Rome (6 Nations)
04.02.2012 v France L 12-30 in Paris (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings World Table-Argentina 9th, Italy 10th

IRB Ranking Points
Argentina 80.28, Italy 74.17

Prediction; Italy by 5 points

Teams
13[1]
ARGENTINA

15 Joaquin Tuculet  Sale, England
14 Belisario Agulla  Agen, France)
13 Gabriel Ascarate  Natacion y Gimnasia RC
12 Felipe Contepomi (Capt.) Stade Français, France
11 Augustine Gosio  Newman RC
10 Ignacio Mieres  Exeter, England
9 Martin Landajo  Club Atletico San Isidro
8 Leonardo Senatore  Gimnasia de Rosario
7 Thomas Leonardi  San Isidro Club
6 Genaro Fessia  Cordoba Athletic RC
5 Julio Farias Cabello  Tucuman Rugby)
4 Benjamin Macome  Tucuman Rugby)
3 Francisco Gomez Kodela  Biarritz, France
2 Eusebio Guinazu  Biarritz, France
1 Rodrigo Roncero  Stade Français, France
16 Bruno Postiglioni  La Plata
17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro  Stade Français, France
18 Santiago Guzman  Tucuman Rugby)
19 Thomas De la Vega  Club Universitat Buenos Aires
20 Thomas Cubelli  Belgrano
21 Manuel Montero  Pucara
22 Roman Miralles Duendes
HEAD COACH: Santiago Phelan

6[1]

ITALY


15
Luke McLean Treviso
14 Giovanbattista Venditti Aironi
13 Roberto Quartaroli  Aironi
12 Alberto Scarbi Treviso
11 Tommaso Benvenuti Treviso
10 Kristopher Burton  Treviso
9 Edoardo Gori  Treviso
8 Robert Barbieri  Treviso
7 Mauro Bergamasco  Aironi
6 Alessandro Zanni Treviso
5 Marco Bortolami (Capt.) Aironi
4 Antonio Pavanello  Treviso
3 Martin Castrogiovani  Leicester Tigers, England
2 Carlo Festuccia  Parma
1 Alberto De Marchi * Aironi
16 Davide Giazzon * Rovigo
17 Lorenzo Romano * Aironi
18 Joshua Furni Aironi
19 Simone Favaro  Aironi
20 Tito Tebeldi Aironi
21 Riccardo Bocchino  Cavalieri Prato
22 Giulio Toniolatti Aironi
HEAD COACH: Jacques Brunel

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