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Outspoken Creevy benched for 'boring' England match
Reporting from Tokyo: Outspoken Pumas captain Augustin Creevy has been left on the bench following his pot-stirring comments about ‘boring’ England and the teams going to ‘war’.
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Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has named his team for the Pool C match against England at Tokyo Stadium on Saturday, with just one change from the side that bested Tonga last time out – No.8 Javier Ortega Desio replaces Tomas Lezana.
If the former captain comes onto the field on Saturday, he will break Argentina’s record for most caps. He is currently tied on 87 with Felipe Contepomi.
Speaking earlier this week on the possibility of being benched, Creevy was pretty resigned to the idea: “I just have to accept it. Everyone likes to start, but when it’s your turn to step down, you need to know your place.
“The initial frustration wears off fairly quickly and instead, you should consider how best to serve and help the team. I really mean it. If the coaches think it’s the best option, you have to respect and not fight it. You need to show your class.
“It’s been on my mind for a while now. Whatever comes, I will enjoy it, be it in the starting line-up or on the bench.
“The most important thing now are the Pumas, not my (Argentina record) 88 caps. We need to win and qualify. The Pumas are above everything and everyone else, including the players, coaches and managers.”
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He refused to discuss the last time he was benched at the 2015 tournament.
“I prefer not to discuss it. I don’t ask for explanations. If something I do needs checking, he (Argentina coach, Mario Ledesma) will let me know. I don’t ask when I am named nor when I am not.”
Ortega Desio returns to the team having played in the opening match against France. Montoya, Urdapilleta and Carreras retain their places having come in for Creevy, Sanchez and Moyano for the game against Tonga.
Así formará el equipo para el partido de este sábado. ¡Entran 15 a la cancha y lo juega todo un país! #VamosPumas #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/6oi3emuCgG
— Los Pumas (@lospumas) October 3, 2019
Fly-half Nicolas Sanchez is not selected in the match-day 23. He has not missed a Rugby World Cup or Rugby Championship game since October 2016, when he was injured.
Lucas Mensa, whose only cap for Argentina came at inside-centre, will provide fly-half cover from the bench.
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Only six players who started the 21-8 defeat by England in 17 November, the last match between the two nations, make the starting XV this time, including back-row forwards Pablo Matera and Marcos Kremer.
ARGENTINA TEAM:
1. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
2. Julian Montoya
3. Juan Figallo
4. Guido Petti Pagadizabal
5. Tomas Lavanini
6. Pablo Matera (capt.)
7. Marcos Kremer
8. Javier Ortega Desio
9. Tomas Cubelli
10. Benjamin Urdapilleta
11. Santiago Carreras
12. Jeronimo de la Fuente
13. Matias Orlando
14. Matías Moroni
15. Emiliano Boffelli
16. Agustín Creevy
17. Mayco Vivas
18. Santiago Medrano
19. Matias Alemanno
20. Tomas Lezana
21. Felipe Ezcurra
22. Lucas Mensa
23. Bautista Delguy
Anthony Watson looks ahead to Argentina on Saturday and discusses the competition for places on the wing.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
1 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
23 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
6 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to comments