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After a two-year wait the rivalry between France and Argentina resumes. In the only match between the foes during the RWC 2015-2019 cycle in France the teams meet in Lille on Saturday.
The fixture sees two new men at the helm. The teams last meet in Tucumán in June 2016, splitting a two-match series with one win each. A lot has changed since then with Jacques Brunel now leading France and Mario Ledesma in charge of Argentina.
France enter the match coming off a shocking defeat. Having been in firm control again South Africa Les Blues were downed in Paris last weekend. Brunel has maintained the faith in only making two changes.
The two alterations come in the backs with Damian Penaud and Geoffrey Doumayrou out through injury. Occupying their positions are Yoann Huget and Gaël Fickou while there is a spot this weekend for Benjamin Fall on the bench.
Los Pumas were also beaten last weekend. In a match they could have won the South Americans fell to a 28-17 loss against Ireland, with the world no 2 seeing out the win in the final quarter.
Ledesma has maintained 14 of the starting players. The one alteration comes at scrum half with Gonzalo Bertranou returning to take over from Tomás Cubelli. It means Daniel Hourcade’s favored 9 is again unable to make the side despite having played in every single test match under the former Head Coach.
On the bench Ledesma has opted for just two replacement backs. Dropping out is Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, a debutant last weekend against Ireland. The position will be covered by Emiliano Boffelli from fullback if required.
With one extra replacement forward there is inclusion for Mariano Galarza. The Bordeaux lock is to make his first test match appearance since RWC 2019. Following Juan Figallo, Facundo Bosch, Gastón Córtes, and Ramiro Herrera Galarza is the fifth players based in Europe to be selected by Ledesma.
Both Rodrigo Bruni and Tomás Lezana are on the bench giving Los Pumas two replacement back-rowers. This could yet see Galarza joining Guido Petti in locking the scrum as the 23-year-old Petti has been named to start again at flanker. The policy comes with Marcos Kremer out of the tour.
France vs Argentina always has Key match-ups. Guilhem Guirado and Agustín Creevy are elite hookers, Camille Lopez and Nicolás Sánchez are both playing exceptionally and Teddy Thomas and Bautista Delguy are among the bright wing prospects for RWC 2019. Yet the feature clash in Lille looms at inside center with two outstanding players facing off in Gaël Fickou and Jerónimo de la Fuente.
There have been 50 prior test matches between France and Argentina. Les Bleus have 35, Los Pumas 14 and there has been one draw.
Saturday’s match marks the third clash between the countries in Lille. The first was in 1988 with France winning 29-18 at the Stade Nord. More recently the teams met at the Stade Pierre-Mauroy with France winning 39-22 in 2012.
Los Pumas have five wins over Les Bleus in France. The most recent win was in 2014, with an 18-13 triumph in France. That was also the most recent match between the countries in France. Argentina’s other away victories over France were in RWC 2007 with 34-10 and 17-12 wins in Paris, in 2014 in Marseille and in 1992 in Nantes.
Home advantage sees France entering as slight favorites. In order to break the French Los Pumas will need a strong tactical game from Sánchez and for the forwards to win the tight battle. France enter as favorites by 2 points.
FRANCE
1 Jefferson Poirot, 2 Guilhem Guirado (capt.), 3 Cedate Gomes Sa, 4 Sébastien Vaha’amahina, 5 Yoann Maestri, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 7 Arthur Iturria, 8 Louis Picamoles, 9 Baptiste Serin, 10 Camille Lopez, 11 Yoann Huget, 12 Gaël Fickou, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 14 Teddy Thomas, 15 Maxime Médard
Replacements: 16 Camille Chat, 17 Dany Priso, 18 Rabah Slimani, 19 Paul Gabrillagues, 20 Mathieu Babillot, 21 Antoine Dupont, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Benjamin Fall
ARGENTINA
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Matías Alemanno, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Pablo Matera (capt.), 7 Guido Petti, 8 Javier Ortega Desio, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Bautista Delguy, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 18 Lucio Sordoni, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Tomás Lezana, 22 Tomás Cubelli, 23 Matías Moroni
Date: Saturday, November 17
Kick-off: 21:00 local (12:00 Pacific, 15:00 Eastern, 17:00 Buenos Aires)
Venue: Stade Pierre Mauroy, Lille
Referee: Glen Jackson (NZRU)
Assistants: Matthew Carley (RFU) & Ian Davies (WRU)
TMO: David Grashoff (RFU)
Broadcasts: ESPN
