Rugby

Loffreda shuffles Puma's pack

Argentina have made six changes to their starting XV for the World Cup bronze-medal match against France in Paris on Friday.

Wed Oct 17 2007 - 01:00

Argentina have made six changes to their starting XV for the World Cup bronze-medal match against France in Paris on Friday.

Coach Marcelo Loffreda makes four alterations to the pack that started in Sunday's semi-final loss to South Africa, with hooker Alberto Vernet Basualdo, prop Omar Hasan, lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and flanker Martin Durand coming in.

Mario Ledesma, Martin Scelzo, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe and Lucas Ostiglia are the players to drop out.

Behind the scrum, winger Federico Martin Aramburu and centre Gonzalo Tiesi replace Lucas Borges and Manuel Contepomi.

Agustin Pichot retains his position at scrum-half in what will be his last World Cup appearance for the Pumas.

Loffreda will take charge of his last Argentina game before making his move to Leicseter Tigers.

Argentina: I Corleto; FM Aramburu, G Tiesi, F Contepomi, H Agulla; JM Hernandez, A Pichot; R Roncero, A Vernet Basualdo, O Hasan, R Alvarez Kairelis, P Albacete, M Durand, JM Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo Elia. Replacements: M Ayerza, E Guinazu, E Lozada, JM Leguizamon, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, H Senillosa.

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