Italy v Argentina - Match Preview
November 15, 2002

The Pumas kick off their European tour on Saturday taking on Italy at the Stadio Flaminio in Rome.

For Argentina, it will be their first outing since their disappointing display in Buenos Aires when they went down to the Wallabies earlier this month.

Italy enter the clash fresh from having qualified for next year's global showpiece but they may find the step up in class a little hard to adjust to.

The Pumas will be hoping that fly-half Felipe Contepomi will have his right boots on this time after a woeful display against the Wallabies.

Italian flanker Mauro Bergamasco misses the clash with a shoulder injury.

"I'm really disappointed because I've been in great form for my club who are doing really well," said th Trevisio man. "It will be a great occasion and was a great opportunity for me to regain the number seven jersey.

After Saturday's Test against the Pumas, Italy host world champions Australia in Genoa on November 23.

Italy:
Mirco Bergamasco, Paolo Vaccari, Cristian Stoica, Matteo Barbini, Nicola Mazzucato, Diego Dominguez, Alessandro Troncon (c), Scott Palmer, Aaron Persico, Salvatore Garozzo, Santiago Dellapé, Marco Bortolami, Federico Pucciarello, Andrea Moretti, Gianluca Faliva.

Replacements:
Fabio Ongaro, Leandro Castrogiovanni, Enrico Pavanello, Matteo Parisse, Juan Manuel Queirolo, Gert Peens, Cristian Zanoletti.

Argentina:
Ignacio Corleto, Gonzalo Camardón, José Orengo, Lisandro Arbizu (c), Diego Albanese, Felipe Contepomi, Agustín Pichot, Gonzalo Longo, Rolando Martín, Santiago Phelan, Rimas Álvarez, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Omar Hasan, Federico Méndez, Roberto Grau.

Replacements:
Juan José Villar, Mauricio Reggiardo, Pedro Sporleder, Martín Durand, Nicolás Fernández Miranda, Juan de la Cruz Fernández Miranda, José María Nuñez Piossek.

Referee: A. Cole (Aus)
Venue: Rome

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