Argentina name team for Lions clash
Marcelo Loffreda has named Felipe Contepomi as Argentina’s captain for their clash with the British & Irish Lions at the Millennium Stadium on Monday evening.
Contepomi is excited by the challenge of facing the elite players from the four home unions, although he accepts it will be an uphill struggle to gain a positive result – particularly with the limited player availability for the South Americans.
European-based players like Augustin Pichot and Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe have not been made available due to ongoing playing commitments with their clubs, but Contepomi is excited nevertheless.
“It’s a dream match. A unique game,” said Contepomi.
“Nobody will be able to take away the dream of entering history, because this is the first time the Lions will play against a national team in the United Kingdom and I think it may never happen again.”
Loffreda described the game as “one of the most important matches in Argentina’s history”.
The Argentinian squad contains just nine full-time professionals.
Meanwhile, Federico Mendez has announced he is considering retiring from the Pumas after this match.
“It’s a possibility. I’ll talk to the head-coach and then I’ll see what I’m going to do,” explained Mendez.
“I’ve been playing internationally since 1990 and my body is feeling the effort.”
Argentina team to play British & Irish Lions at Millennium Stadium on Monday, May 23:
Bernardo Stortoni; Jose Nunez Piossek, Lisandro Arbizu, Felipe Contepomi (capt), Francisco Leonelli; Federico Todeschini, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda; Mauricio Reggardo, Mario Ledesma, Federico Mendez, Pablo Bouza, Mariano Sambucetti, Federico Genoud, Martin Schusterman, Juan Manuel Leguizamon.
Replacements: Eusebio Guinazu, Leopoldo de Chazal, Manuel Carizza, Santiago Sanz, Lucio Lopez Fleming, Francisco Bosch, Federico Serra.
