Italy v Argentina, sat 13 nov, 15cet Stadio Bentegodi, Verona

[danit]

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1- Rodrigo Roncero
2- Mario Ledesma
3- Martín Scelzo
4- Manuel Carizza
5- Mariano Galarza
6- Genaro Fessia
7- Miguel De Achaval
8- Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
9- Nicolás Vergallo
10- Felipe Contepomi (capitán)
11- Lucas González Amorosino
12- Santiago Fernández
13- Gonzalo Tiesi
14- Gonzalo Camacho
15- Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga

Entrenador: Santiago Phelan


a couple (or more) of unsung players here, as Fessia and De Achaval have never played at pro level except in the Vodacom Cup for the Pampas XV, and Galarza (who had performed in the VC too) just played a bunch of minutes for Leinster so far

an impressive frontline and excellent halves though

in the backline, Contepomi, Fernàndez and Rodríguez Gurruchaga are actually in excellent form whereas Tiesi and Amorosino don't seem so brilliant, dunno how Camacho is effectively performing with the 'Quins

 

[Duckdee]

Looking forward to seeing what Amorosino can do, he has been playing, but only for the A team.

 

[Melhor Time]

Duckdee

Amorisino has played at fullback and wing for Leicester in Premiership matches. Not all, less than he should have but in no way has he only been in the A team. H has been poorly used as have many other Tigers this season.

Ciao Danit

Fessia was at Sale Sharks in England for a season with the Fernandez Lobbe brothers but returned to Argentina to have twins. It is surprizing to me that he is playing for Cordoba today though and not for a European club. He is a very good player - as good as many backrowers in the 6 Nations. Despite Argentina having professional players to select Fessia has been the first choice since June 2009.

De Achaval will be making his debut. He was offered a professional contract for two years to play in the Top 14 for Agen starting this season but turned it down. He commented that family reasons were the reason. Last month he captained Los Jaguares in the Americas Rugby Championship.

Galarza's inclusion is a surprize but not so much. Patricio Albacete is not playing because he broke a toe playing for Toulouse vs Bourgoin last weekend. Despite the injry he played through the pain and played for all 80 minutes of the win. Galarza toured in November 2008 but did not play. Phelan is not so keen on Esteban Lozada and so it is a huge opportunity for Galarza who is a good player but has not had the chances yet for Leinster.

Watch for two props to be on the bench.

Hernandez missing sucks again but is was almost worse. Rodriguez Gurruchaga and Tiesi were both in doubt for this match. Contepomi had a great match for Toulon vs Perpignan last weekend. Santiago Fernandez was great for Montpellier too. Both are on form heading into this match. Gower, in contrast, has been missing in action for Bayonne recently. Tiesi is underrated. He is a much better player than Manuel Contepomi ever was. With him at 13 Argentina have more going for them in attack. The problem is he has been injured and is returning now to play Italy without club action for Stade Francais first.

I like the backs a lot. The back three are young and all great players. Rodriguez Gurruchaga is the best Stade Francais back this season - easily. Camacho has returned from a long injury and is scoring tries for Harlequins. Amorisino is a star in the making. Leicester have made some dumb decisions all season and the losses speak for themselves.







In 2008 Agulla, Borges and Bosch were all first choice players. Now they can't make the team. Martin Bustos Moyano is injured for the Italy match but is another likely to overtake these players going off his form in the Top 14. The players picked to play 11,14 and 15 are far more dangerous than those from France 2007 or any time since. Argentina will have a team with much more flair. Hernandez could really rack up points by feeding these players. Sadly, he is missing but Contepomi at flyhalf is still an outstanding player.

See more here - http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2010/11/argentina-lineup-announced-for-italy.html

 

[danit]

cheers Melhor Time for the detailed infos

we know Manuel Contepomi as he also played for an italian club (Rovigo), never realized how he could be selected for Pumas, I agree Tiesi is much better

 

[Duckdee]

Duckdee

Amorisino has played at fullback and wing for Leicester in Premiership matches. Not all, less than he should have but in no way has he only been in the A team. H has been poorly used as have many other Tigers this season.[...]Amorisino is a star in the making. Leicester have made some dumb decisions all season and the losses speak for themselves.

I've just checked, and he's played 1 Premiership game this season, and he scored a try. Was on the bench for a HC game, and started last weekend in the Anglo-Welsh cup. 2 starts and a bench spot for the A team.

I would like to see him play more, instead of Tuilagi, but Cockerill is quite a conservative coach. However, that's not the reason Tigers have been struggling.

 

[danit]

Italy XV



15 Luke MCLEAN (Treviso, 21 caps)
14 Tommaso BENVENUTI (Treviso, uncapped)
13 Gonzalo CANALE (Clermont-Auvergne, 58 caps)
12 Andrea MASI (Racing-Metro Paris, 52 caps)
11 Mirco BERGAMASCO (Racing-Metro Paris, 73 caps)
10 Craig GOWER (Bayonne, 13 caps)
9 ***o TEBALDI (Aironi Rugby, 13 caps)
8 Sergio PARISSE (Stade Francais, 69 caps) - capitano
7 Robert BARBIERI (Treviso, 7 caps)
6 Alessandro ZANNI (Treviso, 44 caps)
5 Quintin GELDENHUYS (Aironi Rugby, 13 caps)
4 Carlo Antonio DEL FAVA (Aironi Rugby, 45 caps)
3 Martin CASTROGIOVANNI (Leicester Tigers, 68 caps)
2 Leonardo GHIRALDINI (Treviso, 31 caps)
1 Salvatore PERUGINI (Aironi Rugby, 73 caps)
<hr>
16 Fabio ONGARO (Aironi Rugby, 71 caps)
17 Andrea LO CICERO (Racing-Metro Paris, 78 caps)
18 Santiago DELLAPE’ (Racing-Metro Paris, 57 caps)
19 Paul DERBYSHIRE (Treviso, 5 caps)
20 Pablo CANAVOSIO (Aironi Rugby, 30 caps)
21 Luciano ORQUERA (Brive, 14 caps)
22 Alberto SGARBI (Treviso, 5 caps)




more or less the expected team even if I'm really disappointed for Benevenuti, this guy is a pure natural center, a shame he's at winger

 

[Melhor Time]

Contepomi scored 17 points. The try changed everything after a dull first half which saw Argentina lose Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe to injury. Hopefully he can return otherwise Argentina will really have issues.

Check out my match report and video!

http://rugbyworldcup-argentina2023.blogspot.com/2010/11/contepomi-scores-17-points-as-argentina.html

Biarritz´s Manuel Carizza is out with a broken arm - meaning Argentina are now without both first choice second rowers. Maybe this will see the impressive Tomas Vallejos of Harlequins make his Pumas debut? There is a chance that Patricio Albacete will return to play France next week in Montpellier.

Argentinas try was excellent. Their best of 2010 and one of the best of the year in any international match. It should well be nominated for try of the year but won´t get it. I liked it as much as Ashton´s 100 metre effort vs Australia.