ARGENTINA v WALES

10.11.2012

Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff

Referee: Romain Poite (France)

Preview
Just how far Argentina has progressed since joining New Zealand, Australia and South Africa to make the Rugby Championship will be gauged in this eagerly awaited test match against Wales.

Wales has just the one new cap. Aaron Jarvis will have to shape up to Marcos Ayerza, a daunting task.

Argentina sees the return of Gonzalo Tiesi, who has been out of action since the 2011 Rugby World Cup, and veteran Contepomi who missed the Rugby Championship. Otherwise the team, Roncero apart (retired), is very much that that did well in the Rugby Championship.

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Argentina 5th, Wales 9th

IRB Ranking Points
Wales 82.26, Argentina 78.63

Prediction: Argentina to cause a minor upset and win by 4 points

TEAMS

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alexander Cuthbert, 13 Scott Williams, 12 James Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Tavis Knoyle, 8 Tobias Faletau, 7 Samuel Warburton, Capt. 6 Joshua Turnbull, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun Wyn Jones, 3 Aaron Jarvis*, 2 Matthew Rees, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Richard Hibbard, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Paul James, 19 Robert McCusker, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Michael Phillips, 22 James Hook, 23 Liam Williams.
Head Coach: Robert Howley (temp.)

Argentina
15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Gonzalo Camacho, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Leonardo Senatore,
5 Julio Farias Cabello, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu,
1 Marcos Ayerza.
Replacements
16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Juan Gomez, 19 Tomas Vallejos Cinalli, 20 Tomas Leonardi, 21 Nicolas Vergallo, 22 Horacio Agulla, 23 Joaquin Tuculet.
Head Coach: Santiago Phelan