Argentina make three changes for Ireland clash

Rugby: Argentina have made three changes from the team beaten last weekend by France for Sunday’s autumn international against…

Argentina's Horacio Agulla stretches during yesterday's training session at UCD. The World Cup winger will start against Ireland on Sunday (Photograph: Lorraine O'Sullivan/Inpho)
Argentina's Horacio Agulla stretches during yesterday's training session at UCD. The World Cup winger will start against Ireland on Sunday (Photograph: Lorraine O'Sullivan/Inpho)

Rugby:Argentina have made three changes from the team beaten last weekend by France for Sunday's autumn international against Ireland at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday.

World Cup wing Horacio Agulla, who missed the Pumas’ 22-16 win over Italy and 15-9 defeat by France, comes in for Gonzalo Camacho and centre Marcelo Bosch replaces Santiago Fernandez at inside centre.

The only change in the forwards is the inclusion of flanker Julio Farias Cabello, who impressed as a replacement on his Pumas debut against the French in Montpellier last Saturday in place of Miguel de Achaval.

Wing Lucas Borges, another member of Argentina's 2007 World Cup squad, comes on to the bench with prop Juan Figallo.

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Former Leinster star Felipe Contepomi will captain the side from outhalf, while present Leinster player Mariano Galarza has been named in the secondrow.

Centre Gonzalo Tiesi said that the Pumas had played better in defeat against France than in their win over Italy in Verona 11 days ago.

“Against Italy we won but on the pitch we saw an Argentine team that did not dominate much and played little with the ball and against France we lost but played better rugby,” admitted Tiesi.

“These are the differences that stand out, one for having won, which is the main objective, but looking to the long term we want to continue improving our game," he said.

“Maybe today Ireland are a small step above us but we are confident we can have a good match.”

Ireland coach Declan Kidney will name his side on Friday to give his long injury list time to recover.

ARGENTINA:Martin Rodriguez; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Marcelo Bosch, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Felipe Contepomi (capt), Nicolas Vergallo; Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo, Mariano Galarza, Patricio Albacete, Genaro Fessia, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Fernandez Lobbe

Replacements:Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza, Juan Figallo, Santiago Guzman, Alvaro Galindo, Alfredo Lalanne, Lucas Borges.