Argentina make three changes for France

Argentina make three changes for France

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan named his starting XV for Saturday's Test match against France in Lille, leaving out injured fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez as one of three changes from their 26-12 win over Wales in Cardiff last weekend.

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan, pictured in October 2012, named his starting XV for Saturday's Test match against France in Lille, leaving out injured fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez as one of three changes from their 26-12 win over Wales in Cardiff last weekend.

Hernandez misses out after sustaining a knock at the Millennium Stadium, with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino stepping in to replace the Racing Metro player and Biarritz centre Marcelo Bosch filling the void left by the sidelined Felipe Contepomi, who suffered knee ligament damage in Cardiff.

Bath wing Horacio Agulla also earns a starting nod as he takes over from Gonzalo Camacho.

Pumas coach Santiago Phelan explained that having a larger squad to choose from than usual he had decided to ring the changes.

"We selected a larger squad at the beginning of the series of tests and we then make our choices each week," said Phelan.

"We are using this window of opportunity (November) to give other players a chance. This match is a good moment to change players."

Both Amorosino and Bosch missed the Wales match as it had been agreed by the Argentinian federation and the French League authorities that they should remain with their Top 14 clubs for last weekend's round of domestic matches.

"We had a special agreement with the French clubs not to select more than two players from a club for the first match," said Phelan.

"A lot of our players play in France and England, and we have a good working relationship with these countries."

Phelan, whose side's two match series with the French in Argentina in the summer ended 1-1, added that Hernandez's injury was not too serious.

"He will recuperate this week. He will hopefully be fit again for the following week's match against Ireland."

Team (15-1):

Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino; Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Imhoff; Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo; Leonardo Senatore, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (capt); Julio Farias Cabello, Manuel Carizza; Juan Figallo, Eusebio Guinazu, Marcos Ayerza

Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Tomas Vallejos, Tomas de la Vega, Tomas Cubelli, Gonzalo Camacho, Joaquin Tuculet

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