Argentina's bold scrumhalf change ahead of France and Dupont

Starting Gonzalo Garcia at scrumhalf is a true statement of how Argentina plan to take on France, and shackle the best player in the world.

Argentina were at their best in the narrow 22-19 defeat to Ireland last Friday when Garcia came on with 35 minutes to go and injected life into the attack.

And now they go from one citadel – Ireland had won 19 in a row in Dublin before losing to New Zealand – to another in the Stade de France, with Garcia hoping to take his chance.

The Argentine record against the French in the stadium where South Africa twice raised the Webb Ellis Cup reads two wins, two losses, but last year there were also two painful defeats against the All Blacks and England in the last two games in a World Cup that saw them finish fourth.

How much history counts in sports is a debatable issue, and the team knows well that it’s what happens over the next 80 minutes that will determine whether they can beat the French for a sixteenth time in what will be the 40th test between both sides.

Garcia’s inclusion at nine for Gonzalo Bertranou is the only change made by Felipe Contepomi but the bench has been seriously strengthened by the return of the towering Marcos Kremer and the ever-dangerous Mateo Carreras. Lautaro Bazán Vélez will cover Garcia, who fully merits his place according to Contepomi.

“He has been training well and we consider it is a good opportunity for him to start a game,” he said of the Zebre player.

“Bertranou has been playing well and played a lot this year, but these are tactical and strategic decisions we take and obviously because he (García) deserves it.”

With the team aiming for a multi-phased game-plan, ready to react to any attacking opportunities, the quick delivery at halfback is crucial. Also, García likes making the opposition guess what comes next.

He has never faced a certain Antoine Dupont before, arguably the best player in the world, certainly on home turf.

García, a three-year U20 international, suffered an untimely knee injury that derailed his progress by a couple of years, but is back to his best and it should make for a fascinating clash with Dupont.

“We know he is playing against Dupont but we must be very careful about focusing too much on one individual player and not doing so on the other fourteen quality players. France plays good rugby, with good set pieces and also have individual players of great quality,” said Contepomi, downplaying the mini battle.

Recognised as a hero in Leinster, Contepomi played his final four years of professional rugby in France – two years apiece with Toulon and Stade Français. He was also coached by Fabien Galthie when the now French coach was technical advisor of Los Pumas.

“Given our geographic and geopolitical place in rugby, that many of our players play in such a high level tournament as the Top 14 is very good. It is a very interesting and competitive tournament and has helped a lot for player development and performance,” he said, referencing the connections between the countries.

The ‘inside knowledge’ stretches with eleven players in the matchday 23 – which totals 894 caps – plying their trade with French clubs. Amongst them is lock Guido Petti, the sole survivor of the 18-13 win at Stade de France in 2014, although Pablo Matera and a young Julian Montoya on his first Puma tour, were not used.

The weather could become an issue as rain is expected, with snow having fallen in the French capital during the week.

“I live in England so I don’t even read weather forecasts,” said Leicester Tigers’ Montoya, whose 108 caps will be crucial.

“It is about controlling what we can do as a team regardless of what the weather throws at us.”

The use of bench will be as important as it was against Ireland and the return to the squad of Kremer and Carreras is hopefully a masterstroke. Unavailable in the opening two weeks, they have been in great shape in the build-up to this season finale to be able to play their part.

The team has won six of eleven tests in 2024 and could finish with a positive winning ratio in Paris. Eight of those tests have been against the top four teams in the world.

“Our goal,” stresses Contepomi, “is to be better, every time, at every training. We evaluate our success on whether we did what we said we would do. We have gotten better, and are on the right road but there is still a lot to do.

“We have also got better on many aspects. I am very happy with the team’s attitude, how they constantly try to get better, their day-to-day, how they compete. We are getting better and taking steps forward.”