Pumas clash with Romania

Argentina will aim to get their World Cup campaign back on track when they face Romania here on Saturday in a Pool B game they must win to keep alive their hopes of once again reaching the last eight.

The Pumas suffered a devastating 13-9 loss to England in their opener after leading for much of the match and they finished that game with a long injury list.

Centre Gonzalo Tiesi was subsequently ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a leg injury, while fly-half and skipper Felipe Contepomi was left in great pain from badly bruised ribs.

Coach Santiago Phelan has brought in Marcelo Bosch to replace Tiesi, while Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino comes in at full back to allow positional switches for Martin Rodriguez and Santiago Fernandez, the latter of whom replaces Contepomi in the No.10 shirt.

Number 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has been named as Argentina captain in the absence of Contepomi. On the plus side, veteran hooker Mario Ledesma is fully fit and will set a new record for World Cup matches for Argentina, playing his 15th. He previously shared the record of 14 with Agustin Pichot and Contepomi. INVERCARGILL, AFP.