France v Argentina:Argentina, the emerging power of international rugby, will further test their credentials today against a shell-shocked French side eager to restore their pride.
France will go into the game still reeling from back-to-back defeats by New Zealand - a 47-4 hammering and a more respectable 23-11 loss last week.
"Saturday's Test is the match we must not lose," team manager Jo Maso warned. "We want the team to keep on improving after their catastrophic showing in Lyon and last weekend's better performance. It's important to ram the point home."
To add spice to the game, the Pumas are on a streak of four victories over France, the team they also face in the opening game of the World Cup next September.
"I don't contemplate another failure for a second," added hooker Raphael Ibanez, who will captain the team in the absence of Fabien Pelous, who is ruled out through a rib injury.
Coach Bernard Laporte, however, said there was little point in reading anything long-term into the game. He has made only minor changes to the team who played the second Test against the All Blacks, replacing Aurelien Rougerie with Christophe Dominici on the wing and recalling Dimitri Yachvili at scrumhalf.
The momentum, however, is clearly on the side of the Pumas, who defeated Wales 27-25 and 45-27 and lost by only six points to New Zealand last June before recording their first win at Twickenham two weeks ago and overcoming Italy last weekend.
"Our win at Twickenham was a huge step for Argentina rugby, an historic victory, but we regard Saturday's Test as the true challenge of our tour," coach Marcelo Loffreda told French media after naming a reshuffled line-up.
Agustin Pichot, who led the team at Twickenham but was rested for the Rome game, reclaims the scrumhalf position and the captain's armband.
Federico Todeschini, who scored 22 of Argentina's 25 points after coming off the bench against England and contributed 13 to their win over Italy, will lead the backline.
Twins Felipe and Manuel Contepomi have been selected in the centres alongside wings Jose Maria Nunez Piossek and Ignacio Corleto, with Juan Hernandez at fullback.
In the pack, prop Omar Hasan takes over from Marcos Ayerza and will play at tighthead while Martin Scelzo switches to loosehead.
Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe replaces Esteban Lozada in the second row.
FRANCE: P Elhorga; C Heymans, C Dominici, F Fritz, Y Jauzion; D Traille, D Yachvili; O Milloud, R Ibanez (capt), P de Villiers, L Nallet, P Pape, J Bonnaire, R Martin, E Vermeulen. Replacements: D Szarzewski, S Marconnet, L Jacquet, S Betsen, P Mignoni, D Marty, A Rougerie.
ARGENTINA: J M Hernandez; J M Nunez Piossek, M Contepomi, F Contepomi, I Corleto; F Todeschini, A Pichot (capt); M Scelzo, M Ledesma, O Hasan, I Fernandez Lobbe, P Albacete, M Durand, J Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo. Replacements: A Vernet Basualdo, M Ayerza, E Lozada, J M Leguizamon, N Fernandez Miranda, H Senillosa, H Agulla.
Referee: T Spreadbury (England).
