Test Rugby: France v Argentina

08.11.2008
France v Argentina in Marseilles

Preview
Argentine rugby is still riding a high after their fabulous and popular successes at the 2007 Rugby World Cup. They managed to defeat France twice at that tournament and although their performances so far in 2008 have not been earth shattering, with a full strength side now available, they could perform yet again a humbling victory over their old rivals.

France are rebuilding towards the 2011 Rugby World Cup. This squad has a new look about it with a number of players who toured Australia down under been given another chance. Against the experience Argentineans they could well be short of a gallop.

Last Five Encounters
19.10.2007 Argentina 34-10 in Paris (World Cup, Playoff 3rd-4th)
07.09.2007 Argentina 17-12 in Paris (World Cup, Pool D)
25.11.2006 France 27-26 in Paris
20.11.2004 France 24-14 in Marseilles
21.06.2003 Argentina 32-31 in Buenos Aires

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Argentina 8th, France 9th

Prediction: The heart must be with Argentina. Los Pumas to win by 3 points.

Teams

Argentina
15 Bernardo Stortoni (Glasgow Warriors, Scotland) age 30, 23 tests
14 Francisco Leonelli (Saracens, England) 30, 13
13 Gonzalo Tiesi (Harlequins, England) 23, 16
12 Felipe Contepomi, Capt. (Leinster, Ireland) 30, 64
11 Horacio Agulla (Brive, France) 23, 14
10 Juan Martin Hernandez (Stade Francais, France) 26, 28
9 Nicolas Vergallo (Dax, France) 24, 11
8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks, England) 26, 25
7 Alvaro Galindo (Racing Metro, France) 26, 5
6 Martin Durand (Champagnat) 31, 58
5 Patricio Albacete (Stade Toulousian, France) 27, 26
4 Rimas Alvarez Kairelis (Perpignan, France) 33, 40
3 Juan Pablo Orlandi (Rovigo, Italy) 25, New Cap
2 Mario Ledesma (ASM Clermont Auvergne, France) 35, 66
1 Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais, France) 31, 29
Replacements
16 Alberto Basualdo (Stade Toulousian, France) 25, 9
17 Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers, England) 25, 18
18 Esteban Lozada (Toulon) 26, 10
19 Alejandro Campos (Pueyrredon) 25, 3
20 Agustín Figuerola (Club Atletico San Isidro) 23, New Cap
21 Federico Aramburú (Perpignan, France) 28,
22 Rafael Carballo (Castres Olympique, France) 26, 4
Head Coach: Santiago Phelan

French Squad
Benoit Baby (Clermont Auvergne) age 25, 3 tests
Fabien Barcella (Auch) 24, 2
Lionel Beauxis (Stade Français) 22, 11
Sebastien Chabal (Sale Sharks, England) 30, 38
Thierry Dusautoir (Stade Toulousain) 27, 14
Jean-Baptiste Elissalde (Stade Toulousain) 31, 32
Lionel Faure (Sale Sharks, England) 30, 4
Imanol Harinordoquy (Biarritz Olympique) 28, 48
Cédric Heymans (Stade Toulousain) 30, 40
Yannick Jauzion (Stade Toulousain) 30, 52
Benjamin Kayser (Leicester Tigers, England) 24, 2
Benoit Lecouls (Biarritz Olympique) 30, 2
Julien Malzieu (Clermont Auvergne) 25, 3
Nicolas Mas (Perpignan) 28, 18
Maxime Médard ((Stade Toulousain) 21, New Cap
Romain Millo-Chluski (Stade Toulousain) 25, 1
Lionel Nallet, Capt. (Castres Olympique) 32, 39
Fulgence Ouedraogo (Montpellier) 22, 8
Alexis Palisson (CA Brive) 21, 2
Morgan Parra (Bourgoin) 20, 3
Louis Picamoles (Montpellier) 22, 5
Dimitri Szarzewski (Stade Français) 25, 27
François Trinh-Duc (Montpellier) 21, 7
Head Coach: Marc Lièvremont

Unavailable, not selected or injured
Jérôme Thion, William Servant (Injured), Frédéric Michalak, Vincent Clerc (Injured)
Baby last played a test for France v Australia, July 2005, whilst Millo-Chluski played his only test for France v South Africa in June 2005.

For lists of all France and Argentina test rugby results go to http://www.rugbyinternational.net/