Phelan selects Puma stars for Wales

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan selected his strongest line-up for the World Cup warm-up match with Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Pumas reached the World Cup semifinals in 2007 and kick-off their campaign against 2003 champions England in New Zealand on September 10 and Phelan has opted to start with the likely starting XV for that match against the Welsh.

Phelan made six changes to the side that started the 78-15 thrashing of a South American select XV on June 6, bringing back several of his stalwarts.

Veteran prop Rodrigo Roncero, evergreen hooker Mario Ledesma, lock Patricio Albacete, back row duo Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and skipper and flyhalf Felipe Contepomi all return in a side that features 12 players who play in France's Top 14 championship.

Aside from England, Argentina - whose final warm-up game is against English club side Worcester Warriors next Tuesday - will play Romania, Scotland and Georgia in their pool matches.

Argentina: 15 Martin Rodriguez, 14 Horacio Agulla, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Gonzalo Camacho, 10 Felipe Contepomi (captain), 9 Nicolas Vergallo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Julio Alfredo Farias Cabello, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Martin Scelzo, 18 Mariano Galarza, 19 Alejandro Campos, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Federico Sanches, 22 Juan Jose Imhoff.

Date: Saturday, August 20
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Pascal Gauzere (France), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Graham Warren (England)

AFP