(Reuters) - Argentina have made big changes to the line-up for the first test against France in Mendoza on Saturday, keeping only six players from their last game in October.
New coach Felipe Contepomi named his side on Thursday and retained captain Julian Montoya, prop Thomas Gallo and flanker Marcos Kremer from the side who lost 26-23 to England in the bronze medal match in Paris at last year’s World Cup.
Also retained were Jeronimo de la Fuente, Mateo Carreras and Santiago Carreras in the back row.
Winger Bautista Delguy returned after having missed out on World Cup selection while uncapped flanker Bautista Pedemonte and lock Franco Molina are in line to make their debuts off the bench.
Argentina host France in a two-test series and take on neighbours Uruguay on July 20.
Team:
15-Martin Bogado, 14-Bautista Delguy, 13-Matias Moroni, 12-Jeronimo de la Fuente, 11-Mateo Carreras, 10-Santiago Carreras, 9-Gonzalo Bertranou, 8-Joaquin Oviedo, 7-Marcos Kremer, 6-Pablo Matera, 5-Lucas Paulos, 4-Matias Alemanno, 3-Eduardo Bello, 2-Julian Montoya (c), 1-Thomas Gallo
Replacements: 16-Ignacio Ruiz, 17-Mayco Vivas, 18-Lucio Sordoni, 19-Franco Molina, 20-Bautista Pedemonte, 21-Lautaro Bazan Velez, 22-Tomas Albornoz, 23-Matias Orlando.
(Reporting by Mark Gleeson; Editing by Ed Osmond)
