<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Prestwick @ Nov 24 2009, 12:38 PM)
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Mate you almost got the squad right except for two positions
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So, what was the team list you had? The one I listed was 14 correct players with Campos starting at 7 rather than 6 and I named no player at 6 because of Leonardi´s injury. So the team named is as follows with the changes in red:
15 Horacio Agulla (Brive, France)
14 Lucas Borges (Albi, France)
13 Gonzalo Tiesi (Harlequins, England)
12 Martin Rodriguez (Atletico de Rosario, Argentina)
11 Federico Martin Aramburu (Dax, France)
10 Santiago Fernandez (Hindu Club, Argentina)
9 Alfredo Lalanne (London Irish, England)
1 Marcos Ayerza (Leicester, England)
2 Alberto Vernet Basualdo (Toulouse, France)
3 Martin Scelzo (Clermont Auvergne, France)
4 Manuel Carizza (Biarritz, France)
5 Patricio Albacete (Toulouse, France)
6 Alejandro Campos (Montauban, France)
7 Alejandro Abadie (Rovigo, Italy)
8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon, France, capt) Replacements: 26 Agustin Creevy (San Luis), 17 Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais), 18 Estaban Lozada (Toulon), 19 Tomas Leonardi (SIC), 20 Agustin Figuerola (CASI), 21 Benjamin Urdapilleta (CUBA), 22 Horacio San Martin (Cordoba)
I am satisfied with the team sheet but cannot hide or ignore my frustration that Argentina has not been able to field there incredibly good looking back three combination of 15 Agulla, 14 Amorisino, 11 Camacho. Instead, Aramburu gets a chance at 11 in place of Comuzzi who has not had many opportunities on this tour. Borges has done well and is back playing well. He will be tested vs Scotland as they will kick everything.
Campos is a good weapon for Argentina to have in this game. He is good at the turnover and it is really surprizing that he has not started so far on this tour. A similar situation for Carriza who is a better player than both Sambucetti and Lozada but is only starting now in the final match. He is my pick to be Argentina´s 4 at the World Cup with Albacete, of course, being the 5. Therefore they should have had the chance to form a combination earlier. Perhaps, Phelan wanted to give each of the three a chance to play with Albacete to analyze them this way? It is certainly, to me the logical explanation. Carizza is the best of the three to go up against Scotland´s forward power and excellent lineout. Sambucetti did work well vs Wales but Lozada was not good at all vs England.
Ledesma has had a lot to say about himself not playin in this game. Basualdo could really overtake him now. it is the perfect opportunity. Roncero should also be worried because Ayerza is younger and the better scrumager. He is not a penalty machine at all. He leaves all the illegal play for his Leicester team mate, Julian White. So its a new front row. I have never seem Scelzo pair up with Ayerza in a run on XV. They have played together but always with one coming off the bench. For instance, vs England in 2006 when Scelzo came off the bench to replace Hasan. Roncero was out with a broken jaw at the time.
This is a XV picked deliberatley to defeat Scotland and could very well do so. Vs Fiji, Scotland were unable to do much at all and vs Australia they made 200 odd tackles, over twice the number that Australia did. So, Argentina should not be to concerned, they are the weakest of the three opponents this month and should be tired after such a heavy defensive workload vs Australia. This really is a game build for the front five´s which is why it is great to see Carizza starting. Albacete should really shine while the youthful Basulado and Ayerza will definetly want to justify their places in this team over the experienced players they are replacing. Santiago Fernandez will finally have the opportunity to play a running game. He will be the player to watch and should really allow Gonzalo Tiesi to come to life. For Scotland, their strength is actually out wide but in wet conditions and playing with the centres they have I do not expect to see them doing so much. It will definetly be a forwards contest.
My prediction is Argentina to win by 5. I foresee a try to Tiesi under the posts in the first half.
In related news, Argentina hooker / part time prop, Guinazu, has signed to play for the Stormers in the Super 14 in 2010. Very good news for everybody, inc South Africans.
