France v Argentina, November 17
Pumas change three for France
ESPN Staff
November 14, 2012
Argentina's Felipe Contepomi looks for an opening, Argentina v France, José Fierro, Tucuman, Argentina, June 23, 2012
Felipe Contepomi will miss Saturday's match through injury © Getty Images
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Argentina boss Santiago Phelan has opted to make three changes to their starting XV ahead of the clash with France in Lille on Saturday.

Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino slots into the team at fullback as Juan Martin Hernandez injured himself in Argentina's 26-12 win over Wales on Saturday. And Bath flyer Horacio Agulla, who was benched for Saturday's match, has done enough to force his way back into the XV and replaces Exeter winger Gonzalo Camacho.

The other change sees Marcelo Bosch starting at inside centre with Felipe Contepomi, who was forced off in the early stages of Saturday's match, out injured. There were fears that Contepomi's injury, which looked bad at the time, could have potentially been career-ending. Contepomi is in the twilight stages of his rugby career but the 79-cap back is adamant that he will come back from his latest setback.

"It was a bad injury but it could have been worse. I did my posterior cruciate ligament but at least there's no surgery required," Contepomi told Newstalk. "I'll be out for three or four months, and hopefully in February or March I'll come back. Hopefully I'll play for the last third of the season for Stade Français.

"I'm not thinking about Argentina. My mind is on my recovery and hopefully I'll come back as good as possible. If I'm competitive (then I'll come back for Argentina), but I'm not thinking about that. When I retire I'll retire from rugby, it's up to the coaches. While I'm playing competitive rugby I'll always be available for the Argentinian team.

"Fitness wise I was feeling really good, and hopefully I can come back to the same fitness. It's not the end of the world, it's an injury. As a rugby player you know you can get these injuries and hopefully I'll be back sooner rather than later."

Argentina: Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Tiesi, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Martin Landajo, Marcos Ayerza, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Figallo, Manuel Carizza, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Leonardo Senatore

Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Nahuel Lobo, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Tomas Vallejos, Tomas De la Vega, Tomas Cubelli, Gonzalo Camacho, Joaquin Tuculet

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