Attacking Pumas side to face French Barbarians

Los Pumas Head Coach Daniel Hourcade has made eight changes to he starting XV for Friday’s non-capped international against the Barbarians Franceses. Argentina will play it’s final Rugby Championship warm-up fixture against the touring French side tomorrow with kick-off scheduled for 6:30pm at La Plata Rugby Club.

Changes to the team signifies an intention of playing with flair as a very young pack look to be quicker that the French Barbarians around the park. 21 year old Julián Montoya steps in at hooker for 29 year old Matías Cortese. He is to join 21 year old Lucas Noguera Paz who retains his spot at loosehead prop while 22 year old Matías Díaz replaces 26 year old Francisco Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Retained in the second-row is 20 year old Guido Petti Pagadizabal who will be joined by 22 year old Tomás Lavanini who recently returned from France. Further youth in the pack sees 21 year old Pablo Matera and Facundo Isa both starting and being joined by 25 year old Javier Ortega Desio.

At scrumhalf Martín Landajo replaces Tomás Cubelli and also takes over as captain. He will combine in the halves with Santiago González Iglesias who is also 27. This sees a third 27 year old, Juan Pablo Socino, moving to inside centre and 24 year old Jerónimo De la Fuente also edging one position to start at outside centre.

Further experience is evident in the inside and mid-field backs but players usually not associated with Los Pumas are to be given an opportunity outwide. Fresh rom the World Rugby Nations Cup in Romania, Tomás Carrió will play on one wing with last week’s outside centre, Matías Moroni starting on the other. This sees Román Miralles retained at fullback. At 31 years of age he is the oldest player in the team.

Hourcade declared that: “we have two objectives, alter the bad image from last week, because the team could not adapt to the match that they were playing and let the opposition impose it’s game plan. We committed far too many penalties, and we canot allow this to occur. Secondly, is that the team needs to continue gaining competence, to continue evaluating the players and this is why we organize these matches”.

Argentina
1 Lucas Noguera Paz (UAR), 2 Julián Montoya (UAR), 3 Matías Díaz (UAR), 4 Guido Petti Pagadizabal (UAR), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Racing 92, France), 6 Pablo Matera (UAR), 7 Javier Ortega Desio (UAR), 8 Facundo Isa (UAR), 9 Martín Landajo (UAR – Captain), 10 Santiago González Iglesias (UAR), 11 Tomás Carrió (Duendes), 12 Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle, England), 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente (UAR), 14 Matías Moroni (UAR), 15 Román Miralles (Duendes)

16 Santiago Iglesias Valdez (UAR), 17 Bruno Postiglioni (Zebre, Italy), 18 Francisco Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (UAR), 19 Matías Alemanno (UAR), 20 Benjamín Macome (Bayonne, France), 21 Tomás Cubelli (UAR), 22 Nicolás Sánchez (UAR), 23 Lucas González Amorosino (Cardiff Blues, Wales)

Head Coach: Daniel Hourcade