Argentina make one change for France as stars return to bench

Argentina have made one change to their starting XV to the side that narrowly lost to Ireland on Friday for their encounter with France in their final match of their Autumn Nations Series campaign.

Scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou has dropped out of the squad completely after starting at the Aviva Stadium, with his replacement in Dublin, Gonzalo Garcia, taking the No 9 shirt.

Benetton scrum-half Lautaro Bazán Velez has been named among the substitutes by Felipe Contepomi in what is a strong bench.

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The Pumas have welcomed back veterans Marcos Kremer and Mateo Carreras for the first time in November for the match on Friday night. The pair will start on the bench in Paris.

Kremer has been out with a knee injury since Argentina’s victory over South Africa in the penultimate round of The Rugby Championship, while Carreras has been absent for personal reasons.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

4

Draws

0

Wins

1

Average Points scored

27

20

First try wins

20%

Home team wins

80%

Argentina came agonisingly close to beating Ireland last week, with a knock-on scuppering their chances of victory when they were camped in Ireland’s 22 in the final play of the game.

They will be looking to end 2024 on a high in what will be their third encounter of the year with Les Bleus. With both sides coming away victorious in the two-Test series in July, the match at the Stade de France will be the decider.

Argentina XV
1. Thomas Gallo (34 caps)
2. Julián Montoya (104 caps) – captain
3. Joel Sclavi (26 caps)
4. Guido Petti (86 caps)
5. Pedro Rubiolo (19 caps)
6. Pablo Matera (108 caps) – vice-captain
7. Juan Martín González (39 caps)
8. Joaquín Oviedo (12 caps)
9. Gonzalo García (10 caps)
10. Tomás Albornoz (16 caps)
11. Bautista Delguy (32 caps)
12. Matías Moroni (88 caps)
13. Lucio Cinti (31 caps)
14. Rodrigo Isgró (6 caps)
15. Juan Cruz Mallía (41 caps) – vice-captain

Replacements
16. Ignacio Ruiz (17 caps)
17. Ignacio Calles (7 caps)
18. Francisco Gómez Kodela (40 caps)
19. Franco Molina (11 caps)
20. Marcos Kremer (72 caps)
21. Lautaro Bazán Vélez (17 caps)
22. Santiago Carreras (52 caps)
23. Mateo Carreras (26 caps)