France v Argentina:FRANCE CENTRE Yannick Jauzion insists there will be no complacency against Argentina today after admitting Les Bleus may have taken the South Americans lightly in the past.
France have won just twice in nine starts against the Pumas since 2002 and Jauzion accepts they have sometimes been guilty of underestimating their opponents. Ahead of the clash in Montpellier, the Toulouse player said: “They are a great team. We have struggled against them in the past because we have too often underestimated them. But when you look at them individually you can see their players are almost always the best at their clubs.
“We will have to be ready tomorrow because we need to deal with enthusiastic players who are capable of scoring at any time.”
France’s autumn international schedule has not set many pulses racing so far – the clash with Argentina coming a week after a low-key 34-12 win over Fiji in Nantes. But with Australia due in Paris next weekend, expectation is set to increase and Jauzion believes the fixtures will prove to be crucial in the long run.
“They are important because there are not many matches before the World Cup. There is the Six Nations and these games. Argentina are one of the big teams and we can use it as a gauge to see where the French team is at.”
Argentina may be the away side but they will be familiar with the conditions, with 10 of their starting XV plying their trade in the Top 14. And former Pumas consultant and France skipper Fabien Galthie was quick to point out that a meeting with France holds special significance for the Argentinian players. He said: “Playing against France is how the Argentinians measure themselves.
“The French internationals are their club team-mates, often their friends. They want to be considered, in the eyes of their colleagues, as good rugby players.”
World Cup lock Patricio Albacete of Toulouse was the only change in the Argentina team. Albacete, who has recovered from injury, replaces Manuel Carizza who had surgery on a shoulder injury suffered in the 22-16 win over Italy in their tour opener in Verona on Saturday.
There are also three changes on the bench in the squad for the match at Le Stade de La Mosson in Montpellier. Forwards Santiago Guzman and Julio Farias Cabello and wing Marcelo Bosch stand in for Juan Figallo, Esteban Lozada and Horacio Agulla.
Captain and outhalf Felipe Contepomi said: “We can expect a very tough match against rivals who will want to beat us and are putting a very good team on the pitch. France have great players and for me they’re the best team in Europe. We must be fully concentrated and not make mistakes.”
France v Argentina Venue: Montpelier Kick-off: 7.45
FRANCE: Alexis Palisson, Yoann Huget, Aurelien Rougerie, Yannick Jauzion, Marc Andreu, Damien Traille, Morgan Parra, Sebastien Chabal, Julien Bonnaire, Thierry Dusautoir (capt), Lionel Nallet, Julien Pierre, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Thomas Domingo. Replacements: Guilhem Guirado, Luc Ducalcon, Jerome Thion, Imanol Harinordoquy, Dimitri Yachvili, Fabrice Estebanez, Jerome Porical.
ARGENTINA: Martin Rodriguez, Gonzalo Camacho, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Fernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Felipe Contepomi (capt), Nicolas Vergallo; Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Miguel De Achaval, Genaro Fessia, Patricio Albacete, Mariano Galarza, Martin Scelzo, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero. Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Marcos Ayerza, Santiago Guzman, Julio Farias Cabello, Alvaro Galindo, Alfredo Lalanne, Marcelo Bosch.
