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Two star Pumas are back for Argentina’s final test match of the year. France play host to Argentina on Saturday at the Stade de France on Saturday. For the showdown, Felipe Contepomi has added Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras to his roster.
Both Kremer and Carreras missed out on Argentina’s prior two matches as part of the November Internationals. Mateo Carreras missed out on selection against Italy and Ireland, for family reasons; he became a father for the first-time.
Kremer missed both matches thus far in November and also the final fixture of the Rugby Championship. The enforcer was injured in the win over South Africa in Santiago del Estero in the penultimate round of the Rugby Championship.
Both Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras are first-choice Pumas. Kremer started throughout the year, including captaining Argentina against Uruguay in July. Carreras held down the left wing starting position for Argentina throughout the 2024 Rugby Championship and also the 2024 July Internationals.
Without Kremer, Contepomi started Santiago Grondona against South Africa and Italy and Pablo Matera returned to start against Ireland. Carreras’ non-involvement saw Felipe Contepomi starting Bautista Delguy on the left wing against both Italy and Ireland. He impressed in both matches. Rodrigo Isgró played on the right wing.
The return of Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras sees the pairing taking the placers of two others. Bautista Pedemonte returns to his Top 14 club, Vannes while Santiago Pernas returns to Argentina. Pedemonte was a replacement against Italy while Pernas remains uncapped.
