Latest news with #FelipeContepomi
Reuters
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
Matera to become most capped Argentina player against England
July 10 (Reuters) - Argentina have made seven changes to their side for the second test against England, and moved Pablo Matera from flanker to the back of the scrum where he will earn a record 111th international cap for the hosts in San Juan on Saturday. A depleted England without their British & Irish Lions players outplayed their hosts in a comprehensive 35-12 victory last Saturday to ensure they keep their record of never having lost a series to Argentina. Home coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to the backline with wings Matias Moroni and Ignacio Mendy coming into the side to form a back three with Benjamin Elizalde. Simon Benitez Cruz also returns to scrumhalf to partner flyhalf Santiago Carreras, with the centre pairing made up of Justo Piccardo and Lucio Cinti. Matera's move to number eight means Santiago Grondona is promoted from the bench to start, with Juan Martin Gonzalez the other flanker. Guido Petti and Pedro Rubiolo are in the second row. Matera takes over from former hooker Agustin Creevy as Argentina's most capped player of all time. Hooker Julian Montoya will captain the side again and has props Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gomez Kodela either side of him. Argentina: 15-Benjamin Elizalde, 14-Matias Moroni, 13-Lucio Cinti, 12-Justo Piccardo, 11-Ignacio Mendy, 10-Santiago Carreras, 9-Simon Benitez Cruz, 8-Pablo Matera, 7-Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6-Santiago Grondona, 5-Pedro Rubiolo, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2-Julian Montoya (captain), 1-Thomas Gallo Replacements: 16-Bautista Bernasconi, 17-Mayco Vivas, 18-Pedro Delgado, 19-Lucas Paulos, 20-Facundo Isa, 21-Benjamin Grondona, 22-Augustin Moyano, 23-Nicolas Roger.
CNA
10-07-2025
- Sport
- CNA
Matera to become most capped Argentina player against England
Argentina have made seven changes to their side for the second test against England, and moved Pablo Matera from flanker to the back of the scrum where he will earn a record 111th international cap for the hosts in San Juan on Saturday. A depleted England without their British & Irish Lions players outplayed their hosts in a comprehensive 35-12 victory last Saturday to ensure they keep their record of never having lost a series to Argentina. Home coach Felipe Contepomi has made three changes to the backline with wings Matias Moroni and Ignacio Mendy coming into the side to form a back three with Benjamin Elizalde. Simon Benitez Cruz also returns to scrumhalf to partner flyhalf Santiago Carreras, with the centre pairing made up of Justo Piccardo and Lucio Cinti. Matera's move to number eight means Santiago Grondona is promoted from the bench to start, with Juan Martin Gonzalez the other flanker. Guido Petti and Pedro Rubiolo are in the second row. Matera takes over from former hooker Agustin Creevy as Argentina's most capped player of all time. Hooker Julian Montoya will captain the side again and has props Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gomez Kodela either side of him. Argentina: 15-Benjamin Elizalde, 14-Matias Moroni, 13-Lucio Cinti, 12-Justo Piccardo, 11-Ignacio Mendy, 10-Santiago Carreras, 9-Simon Benitez Cruz, 8-Pablo Matera, 7-Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6-Santiago Grondona, 5-Pedro Rubiolo, 4-Guido Petti, 3-Francisco Gomez Kodela, 2-Julian Montoya (captain), 1-Thomas Gallo Replacements: 16-Bautista Bernasconi, 17-Mayco Vivas, 18-Pedro Delgado, 19-Lucas Paulos, 20-Facundo Isa, 21-Benjamin Grondona, 22-Augustin Moyano, 23-Nicolas Roger.
Asharq Al-Awsat
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Rugby-Bertranou out of Argentine Squad but Petti Arrives after Club Final
Injured scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou has withdrawn from the squad to face England in the second test in San Juan on Saturday, the Argentine Rugby Union said. Bertranou, 31, was taken off hurt during Saturday's 35-12 defeat by England at La Plata, replaced by debutant Simon Benitez Cruz at the start of the second half. Coach Felipe Contepomi has called up Mateo Albanese as his replacement and now has three scrumhalves in the squad for the second test, with Benitez Cruz and Agustin Moyano also competing for a place in the team, Reuters reported. Argentina have also called up Guido Petti, who can play at lock or flank, and utility back Geronimo Prisciantelli to strengthen their squad for the match, as well as the clash against Uruguay in Salta on July 19. Petti arrives after competing for Bordeaux-Begles in the France Top 14 final against Toulouse on June 28, while the uncapped Prisciantelli is called up from Zebre in Italy.
France 24
05-07-2025
- Sport
- France 24
Ford inspires England to 'great' Argentina win on 100th cap
Ford, 32, kicked 15 points and assisted one of England's four tries as Steve Borthwick's side claimed victory before next Saturday's second and final Test of the series. The hosts trailed 22-0 after 50 minutes before crossing twice in a disappointing performance after beating the British and Irish Lions in their last game. "We just wanted to perform well and win today. It's all about the team. It's a great win for us," Ford told Sky Sports. "We know Argentina are going to come back at us next week and it's a challenge we look forward to," he added. Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi made seven changes from July 20's win over the Lions as No 8 Facundo Isa started the game in his first international appearance since October 2023. England boss Borthwick was without 13 first-choice players away with the Lions, including captain Maro Itoje, as centre Seb Atkinson and winger Will Muir made their international debuts. Ford ran out on his own in front of a packed crowd at a hostile Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi before kick-off as he became the eighth male player to reach a century of England Test appearances, having made his debut in 2014. Contepomi's Pumas controlled an ill-disciplined opening quarter from England as flanker Alex Coles was shown a yellow card but they failed to make the most of their dominance. Ford opened the scoring after 21 minutes with Coles off the field by slotting the seventh drop goal of his England career, three of them coming against Los Pumas in the 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage. Atkinson followed Coles to the bin but Ford's clinical effort was the only points of the first half. Ford's influence on the encounter was illustrated even further as he played a crucial part to set-up full-back Freddie Steward with a vintage pass from the stand-off, sandwiched between two efforts from winger Tom Roebuck. The hosts' attempted comeback was kicked off by flanker Pablo Matera crossing on his 110th cap after 52 minutes before lock Pedro Rubiolo also strolled over as they cut the deficit to 10 points. Their hopes of victory were then dashed as Ford added two further penalties and winger Cadan Murley sneaked over in the final quarter as England won a third straight game over Argentina, a run which started with Ford's three drop goals two years ago.
BBC News
02-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Borthwick warns Pumas over 'heavy favourites' tag
First Test: Argentina v EnglandDate: Saturday 5 July Kick-off: 20:40 BST Venue: Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, La Plata Argentina will go into their two-Test home series against a Lions-less England as "heavy favourites" according to the visitors' head coach Steve Pumas, ranked fifth in the world, beat the British and Irish Lions in Dublin last month and have also claimed wins over France, South Africa and New Zealand in the past have never won a series against England but, with home advantage, momentum and the tourists having 13 first-choice players on Lions duty in Australia, they are eyeing a landmark Borthwick has warned opposite number Felipe Contepomi that short odds come with big pressure."This series is terrific for us, it is even more of a challenge for them," Borthwick told Rugby Union Weekly. "Argentina play off the underdog tag, in every single game they go into - they are not underdogs now."Argentina are heavy favourites for these two Tests, that is what they will have to deal with, what their coaching team has to deal with."That is different for them - can they deal with that?"Let's see if we can cause Argentina some problems, see how they enjoy being favourites, and how they handle that. I promise you we are going to give it everything we have got out there." When England last toured Argentina in 2017, Tom Curry and Sam Underhill took advantage of James Haskell, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola's absences, either through Lions duty or injury, to make their 2019, Curry and Underhill were England's first-choice flankers on a run to the Rugby World Cup have 10 uncapped players in their 36-strong squad for the matches in South America and a fixture against the United States in Washington DC on 19 says the step up to Test level in front of fervent Argentine fans will help identify those who can similarly kick on at international level."I am looking forward to seeing these players perform in that kind of atmosphere, in those kind of cauldrons," he added. "Lots of players can play well at club level, but then it is the players who can be Test-match animals - able to perform in the biggest arenas on the most intense stages." 'He is breaking every record we have got' Seb Atkinson is a player Borthwick is particularly interested 23-year-old centre has been a star performer for Gloucester, with only Saracens' number eight Tom Willis carrying over the gainline on more occasions during the Premiership's regular was filmed completing a 'bronco' fitness test in a rapid four minutes and eight seconds earlier this year, external and Borthwick says he has been breaking more records in camp with England."I have enjoyed how he has played for Gloucester," said the Red Roses boss."He has got ball distribution at 12, he is physical in defence, he's a jackal threat, it feels like he has a really good all round skillset and getting to know him, he is very mature, very calm, very confident and very self-assured."And he runs - he is breaking every GPS record we have got."Borthwick names his team for the Saturday's first Test in La Plata on Thursday. The second Test takes place in San Juan the following weekend.
