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Argentina and Romania seek valuable points

Friday 16 September 2011, 5:26PM

By Rugby World Cup 2011

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INVERCARGILL

Romania will be vying for their first Rugby World Cup 2011 point when they play Argentina in the Pool B match at Rugby Park Stadium on Saturday.

Argentina, ranked seventh, have one point by virtue of their four-point loss to England in their first outing.

They have history on their side against the Oaks. Argentina have won all seven of their RWC matches against Romania.

Romania lost their Pool B opener 34-24 to Scotland, despite leading during the second half, while the Pumas are buoyed by that bonus point against England.

Despite Argentina's historical advantage, the Pumas are not taking anything for granted against the 17th-ranked Romanians.

"They have a really good pack and a good defence - we saw that against Scotland," said Argentina number 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, who will also lead his team as captain against the Oaks.

Argentina assistant coach Fabian Turnes says the Pumas are ready for Romania's dogged front row and the rain forecast for Saturday's match.

Attacking rugby

"The weather conditions will influence the game," said Turnes.

"We will play attacking rugby and keep moving with the backs. The first move starts with the forwards. But if there is some wind and rain, we will play more of a kicking game."

But the Pumas will have to dig deep without squad captain Felipe Contepomi and centre Gonzalo Tiesi.

Tiesi has been ruled out of the tournament after damaging knee ligaments in the team's 13-9 defeat by England. Contepomi was left with badly bruised ribs following that match.

"He will obviously be missed. He's our star, the leader and the captain who can make a difference," said Lobbe. "But we believe we have a strong squad and can make it, so we don't miss him too badly."

Marcelo Bosch will replace Tiesi, while Lucas González Amorosino comes in at full back to allow positional switches for Santiago Fernández and Martín Rodríguez.

Julio Farías Cabello was announced as the team's blindside flanker but made a late withdrawal from the match on Friday due to injury. He is replaced by reserve Alejandro Campos, bringing the total of injury-related changes to Argentina's starting XV to three. Thirty-year-old Genaro Fessia is now reserve No.19.

Physical match

Romania's dogged front row will again feature team captain and hooker Marius Tincu, propped by Paulica Ion and Mihaita Alexandru Lazar.

Fly-half Marin Danut Dumbrava, who missed two penalties in the blustery match against Scotland, is now on the reserves bench, while centre Constantin Gheara will make his Rugby World Cup debut on Saturday. Florin Surugiu also comes in from the bench as the team's scrum-half.

Head coach Romeo Stefan Gontineac says Romania's team selection is tailored to counter an expected physical match against Argentina, indicating Dumbrava's omission was not related to his kicking performance in the Scotland defeat.

"We haven't reselected Marin Danut Dumbrava for logical reasons, really," said Gontineac.

"We know it will be a physical match and we feel that our ninth and 10th (half back) positions need a different approach."

Romania forwards coach Steve McDowall (NZL) says the Argentina 'bajadita' scrum is no longer the force it once was, and identified the Pumas' back row as a danger zone.

Gontineac agrees.

"The Argentines are a pretty complex team," he said. "They have strong forwards as well as really good backs. They're capable of being dynamic."

Argentina and Romania kick off their second Pool B match at 15:30.