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PARIS - Argentina made six changes on Wednesday to face France in the rugby World Cup third-place playoff at the Parc des Princes on Saturday (NZT).
The most affected section of the team was the front row with both tighthead prop Martin Scelzo and hooker Mario Ledesma out with injuries following Sunday's 37-13 semifinal loss to South Africa.
Their places have been taken by prop Omar Hasan, at 36 the oldest and one of the most experienced players in the squad, and Alberto Vernet Basualdo. Eusebio Guinazu, called up this week, takes the hooker's place among the replacements.
Rimas Alvarez comes in for Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe at lock and Martin Durand slots into the back row in place of blindside flanker Lucas Ostigilia.
In the backs, Gonzalo Tiesi replaces Manuel Contepomi, Argentina's try scorer on Sunday, at outside centre and Federico Martin Aramburu steps in for Lucas Borges on the right wing.
"We have always tried (in the tournament) to send out the best team and we're doing the same for this match," coach Marcelo Loffreda said after naming his lineup.
"I'm going to feel a lot of pain and a lot of nostalgia during the match," added Loffreda of his last game in charge of the Pumas before taking up a coaching job at Leicester Tigers next month.
"Fundamentally, it is the end of a cycle that has been very enriching for all those of us who have been involved in it."
Argentina have already gone further than ever before with their place in the last four and will be looking to beat France for the second time in this tournament to finish third after upsetting the hosts in the opening match.
Team: 15-Ignacio Corleto, 14-Federico Martin Aramburu, 13-Gonzalo Tiesi, 12-Felipe Contepomi, 11-Horacio Agulla, 10-Juan Martin Hernandez, 9-Agustin Pichot (captain), 8-Gonzalo Longo, 7-Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 6-Martin Durand, 5-Patricio Albacete, 4-Rimas Alvarez, 3-Omar Hasan, 2-Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 1-Rodrigo Roncero
Replacements: 16-Eusebio Guinazu, 17-Marcos Ayerza, 18-Esteban Lozada, 19-Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 20-Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, 21-Federico Todeschini, 22-Hernan Senillosa.
- REUTERS
