Sanchez to captain Argentina

Sanchez, who has 89 points mainly from the boot, will take over the armband from the injured Agustin Creevy.

Coach Daniel Hourcade has made nine changes to the team that started the 15-29 semifinal loss against Australia last Sunday.

Many were forced by injury as key players Creevy, outstanding wing Juan Imhoff and veteran centre Juan Martin Hernández all had to be replaced on Sunday.

Among Friday's starters, Horacio Agulla and Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe started the 2007 third-place play-off for Argentina.

Marcos Ayerza and Juan Manuel Leguizamon came on as replacements in that match which saw them beat hosts France for the second time in the tournament.

Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Nicolas Sanchez (captain), 9 Tomas Cubelli, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 6 Javier Ortega Desio, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Marcos Ayerza.

Replacements: 16 Lucas Noguera, 17 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 18 Juan Figallo, 19 Guido Petti, 20 Facundo Isa, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Pablo Socino.

Date: Friday, October 30

Venue: Olympic Stadium, London

Kick-off: 20.00 (20.00 GMT, 22.00 SA time, 17.00 Argentina time)

Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)

Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

TMO: Graham Hughes

Agence France-Presse