First thing to keep in mind when thinking about Argentina is that not once, I repeat,
never have they had their first choice team together since Rugby World Cup 2007. Thats a remarkable fact.
Scotland defeated a Pumas team in 2010 without scoring tries. One try in two tests. Rain ruined the second test which helped Scotland tremendously. Credit to them, but if the intention is to try to know the level of the two teams then June 2009 does not provide what I would call reliable conclusions. Scotland shut them down but I cannot see this occurring again. A September night in Christchurch will be a recipe for open rugby.
The players who took the field in place of Hernández, Contepomi and Bosch to play 10 and 12 vs Scotland and defeat them were amatuers. This past weekend they made the professional debuts playing for Montpellier and Stade Français Paris in the Top 14. I am talking about Santiago Fernández and MartÃn Rodriguez Gurruchaga. They will become better players this season and will give Argentina far more depth. Fernández played 10 and Rodriguez 12 but with Contepomi fit again Rodirguez was 15 and Fernández 12. They all did well in that match vs France.
Argentina will take 3 flyhalves to New Zealand 2011. Hernández and Contepomi will be two of them. The third will be Fernández or Marcelo Bosch who returned after 10 months off to play 15 in the win vs Montpellier on Friday. Picking a team is no simlpe task. The 1- -12 resources Argentina now have is treuly outstanding. Better than what England, France or South Africa have. And, yes, also better than Scotland.
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Le résumé du match : BO - USAP
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Hernaández, Contepomi, Fernández, Rodriguez, bosch. For me all of these guys are better than Dan Parks. Parks´s only hope is a comanding pack. Scotland, in defeating Argentina in June gave them a lesson. The formidable Pumas front row can no longer go the 80 minutes as they are aged. So, what changes were made to fix this vs France? Two props on the bench.
My selection is as follows:
1 Roncero (Stade Français, France)
2 Ledesma (Clermont, France)
3 Scelzo (Clermont, France)
4 Carizza (Biarritz, France)
5 Albacete (Toulouse, France)
6 Leguizamón (Stade Français, France)
7 Campos (Agen, France)
8 Fernández Lobbe (Toulon, France)
9 Vergallo (Toulouse, France)
10 Hernández (Racing Metro)
11 Amorisino (Leicester, England)
12 Contepomi (Toulon, France)
13 Tiesi (Stade Français, France)
14 Carballo (Bordeaux, France Pro d2)
15 Rodriguez (Stade Français)
16 Ayerza (Leicester, Eng), 17 Figallo (Montpellier, Fra), 18 Creevy (San Luis, Arg), 19 Galarza (Leinster, Irl), 20 Fessia (Córdoba, Arg), 21 Lalanne (London Irish, Eng), 22 Fernández (Montpellier) or Bosch (Biarritz)
This is a much better team than the one that defeated England in Salta in 2009 and Scotland in Edinburgh also in 2009. The back three is much more skilled and much quicker than that used at France 2007 while the forwards are much the same. I cannot see this team losing to both England and Scotland. I will be there to cheer them on. John Barclay, is outstanding as is Kelly Brown. Could Simon Taylro return from international retirement. That would be a great backrow. Still, I think Argentina and Englands backrowers are better.
Moreover, Scotland have lost Thom Evans to retirement - a huge loss. Are the Lamonts what they were? Ben Cairns is, as I see it, the only young guy to come on since Rugby World Cup 2007. Yet, he has not been used, not barely enough. Dan Parks, Mike Blair, Rory Lawson, Simon Danielli, Sean Lamont, Chris Paterson and Hugo Southwell are all likely to be in the XV or 22 but will all be over 30. Max Evans and Graham Morisson arethe exceptions. Is this a set of backs to do this business vs Argentina and England?