Rugby: Pumas prepare for Championship

Felipe Contepomi is in the Pumas team to play Italy. Photo / Getty Images

Argentina begin preparing for the upcoming Rugby Championship with a one-off test against Italy this morning, followed by a two-match series with France.

The Pumas team for the match in the northern city of San Juan is made up mostly of young players and beefed up with captain Felipe Contepomi and Stade Francais clubmate Rodrigo Roncero.

Roncero features in a French Top 14 front row with Biarritz's Francisco Gomez Kodela and hooker Eusebio Guinazu.

The local-based players are unlikely to feature for the Pumas when they make their Rugby Championship debut on August 18 in South Africa.

The great unknown will be the impact of Graham Henry, who is working as an adviser for the Pumas. This will be the first match with Henry involved. He is not allowed to coach directly and is working mostly with development.

"His presence is really important for Argentine rugby," assistant coach Fabian Turnes said. "He is leaving us with basic things that, if we can follow them, will put us in good shape."

Henry is contracted to work seven weeks with the Pumas.

The team for Italy, and tests on June 16 and 23 against France, contain half a dozen players with World Cup experience.

"It is going to be a tough match," Turnes said. "Italy always is difficult for us, and they are always out to win."

Lock Marco Bortolami, Italy's 2007 World Cup captain, will lead the team for the 38th time in the absence of Sergio Parisse, who had a right thigh injury.

Aironi prop Alberto de Marchi will make his test debut, with two more players set to earn their first cap from the reserves: Rovigo hooker Davide Giazzon and Aironi prop Lorenzo Romano.