Argentina make changes at the heart of things

World Cup third play-off Argentina have made six changes to face France in the third-place play-off at the Parc des Princes …

World Cup third play-offArgentina have made six changes to face France in the third-place play-off at the Parc des Princes tomorrow night.

The most affected section of the team is the frontrow with both tighthead prop Martin Scelzo and hooker Mario Ledesma out with injuries following Sunday's 37-13 semi-final loss to South Africa.

Their places have been taken by prop Omar Hasan, at 36 the oldest and one of the most experienced players in the squad, and Alberto Vernet Basualdo. Eusebio Guinazu, called up this week, takes the hooker's place among the replacements.

Rimas Alvarez comes in for Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe at lock and Martin Durand will slot into the back row in place of blindside flanker Lucas Ostigilia.

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In the backs, Gonzalo Tiesi replaces Manuel Contepomi, Argentina's try scorer on Sunday, at outside centre and Federico Martin Aramburu steps in for Lucas Borges on the right wing.

"We have always tried (in the tournament) to send out the best team and we're doing the same for this match," coach Marcelo Loffreda said after naming his line-up.

"I'm going to feel a lot of pain and a lot of nostalgia during the match," added Loffreda of his last game in charge of the Pumas before taking up a coaching job at Leicester Tigers next month.

"Fundamentally, it is the end of a cycle that has been very enriching for all those of us who have been involved in it."

Argentina have already gone further than ever before with their place in the last four and will be looking to beat France for the second time in this tournament to finish third after upsetting the hosts in the opening match.

ARGENTINA(v France, Parc des Princes, tomorrow): I Corleto; F M Aramburu, G Tiesi, F Contepomi, H Agulla; J M Hernandez, A Pichot (capt); R Roncero, A Basualdo, O Hasan, R Alvarez, P Albacete, M Durand, J Fernandez Lobbe, G Longo. Replacements: E Guinazu, M Ayerza, E Lozada, J M Leguizamon, N Fernandez Miranda, F Todeschini, H Senillosa.

Disgruntled Michalak frustrated by tactics

France outhalf Frederic Michalak expressed frustration yesterday over coach Bernard Laporte's tactics in their World Cup semi-final defeat by England where the hosts looked a shadow of their flamboyant selves. "We were given instructions and we had to follow them," said Michalak, who came on as a substitute in Saturday's 14-9 loss to the holders.

Instead of picking Michalak, a symbol of French flair, Laporte chose Lionel Beauxis to start the match at number 10 because he is a powerful kicker. Laporte, who will step down after the World Cup to become a junior minister for sport, faced criticism after France stuck to poor place kicking and failed to spark the moves they would have needed to destabilise England.

Laporte opted for the same game plan that had worked in the quarter-final win over New Zealand but France fell short.

"There was no evolution in our game and we were predictable in some areas," Michalak told reporters. "It could have worked, it came down to very little." The 25-year-old, who will win his 50th cap tomorrow, said it had been a pleasure to work under Laporte. However, he added: "He's not my friend. He's my coach. I found it sometimes difficult to understand his instructions. I didn't agree with all of them."

Michalak, who is leaving Toulouse to join the Natal Sharks and has said he would probably miss next year's Six Nations because of that, said he hoped France would bounce back.

"Beating the All Blacks was special but we wanted more than that," he said. "We wanted to go all the way. It hurts but now our goal is to go further in four years (at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand)." Before that, France will have the chance on Friday to get revenge on Argentina, who beat them in the opening game of the tournament.

"They're a great team, we know that, but we want to finish on a high note," Michalak said. "What we have to do is show more ambitious rugby and try to enjoy ourselves, which we failed to do against England."