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

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

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