Argentina have recalled fit-again enforcer Marcos Kremer as part of four changes to the matchday squad for the clash with France in Paris on Friday.
Scrumhalf Gonzalo Garcia will start instead of Gonzalo Bertranou in the only change to the starting lineup made by Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi.
The 25-year-old Garcia is joined at halfback by Tomas Albornoz for the game in Paris, seven days on from the loss to Ireland in Dublin.
Garcia came off the bench in the Pumas’ defeat last Friday, as well as in their convincing victory over Italy on November 9.
“He has been good when he’s come on,” Contepomi said.
“He is training very well and we believe that it is a good opportunity for him to start a match,” the former Argentina centre added.
Forward Marcos Kremer, scrumhalf Lautaro Bazan Velez and winger Mateo Carreras come onto the bench, having been added to the setup this week in the French capital.
“Marcos and Mateo I think contribute enormous quality,” Contepomi said.
“We will see what they can contribute on match day from the bench, but we do believe that they are doing very well,” he added.
There are 10 players in the matchday squad who play for French clubs, including Toulouse full-back Juan Cruz Mallia, La Rochelle prop Joel Sclavi and Bordeaux-Begles lock Guido Petti.
Argentina — 15 Juan Cruz Mallia, 14 Rodrigo Isgro, 13 Lucio Cinti, 12 Matias Moroni, 11 Bautista Delguy, 10 Tomos Albornoz, 9 Gonzalo Garcia, 8 Juaqin Oviedo, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Pedro Rubiolo, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Joel Sclavi, 2 Julian Montoya (c), 1 Thomas Gallo.
Subs: 16 Ignacio Ruiz, 17 Ignacio Calles, 18 Francisco Gomez Kodela, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Marcos Kremer, 21 Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22 Santiago Carreras, 23 Mateo Carreras.
Photo: Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
