“Finish as high as possible”: Argentina and England, who fell in the semi-finals last week, will try to close their Rugby World Cup on a good note during the match for third place this Friday (9:00 p.m.), at the Stade de France. The two teams have already faced each other during the first weekend of competition. It was September 9 in Marseille and the English, although reduced to 14 at the start of the match, had won, thanks in particular to three drops from George Ford, at the end of a dull match. A lot has changed since then, on one side or the other. The XV de la Rose, with a game plan as basic as it was effective, only lost by one point against South Africa (16-15), defending champion, on the verge of the final. The Pumas also gained strength over the weeks before sinking in the last four against New Zealand (44-6). Eight changes compared to the English XV which stood up to the Springboks, suggesting that the heart is not quite in it. The Pumas have the opportunity to equal the best result in their history in the competition (2007). (with AFP)
Composition of Argentina against England: Mallia – Boffelli, Cinti, De la Fuente, M. Carreras – (or) S. Carreras, (m) Cubelli – Kremer, Isa, Gonzalez – Rubiolo, Petti – Gomez Kodela, Montoya (cap.), Rooster
Substitutes: Creevy, Sclavi, Bello, Alemanno, Bruni, Bazan Velez, Sanchez, Moroni
Composition de l’Angleterre contre l’Argentine: Smith – Steward, Marchant, Tuilagi, Arundell – (o) Farrell (cap.), (m) Youngs – Underhill, Earl, Curry – Chessum, Itoje – Stuart, Dan, Genge
Substitutes: George, Rodd, Cole, Ribbans, Ludlam, Care, Ford, Lawrence
