Hernandez returns as Argentina seek to improve defence in Namibia encounter
LONDON: Argentina’s Juan Martin Hernandez has been given a chance to play himself back into the Pumas side for the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals with an outing at fly-half in the final Pool C clash against Namibia in Leicester.
With defending champions New Zealand routing Tonga 47-9 on Friday, the 2007 semi-finalists have been assured of second place in the pool and a place in the knockout stages even if they lose against Namibia today.
Hernandez returns after missing Argentina’s victory over Tonga with a muscle tear and coach Daniel Hourcade will be looking for him to prove his fitness for a spot in the centres for the quarter-final against Ireland or France.
The 33-year-old will make just his third start at No.10 in the last three years, the others being Argentina’s famous 37-25 victory over South Africa in Durban in August and the 20-18 win in Italy last November.
Both sides have made 11 changes to their starting sides with lock Guido Petti, blindside flanker Pablo Matera, scrumhalf Martin Landajo and outside back Matias Moroni retaining their places for Argentina.
“It’s good that all the players are okay and we believe it’s good to give the others some minutes, we have a very even squad,” Hourcade told the UAR website.
“We want to finish the group phase well, improve defensive aspects [of our game] because we weren’t aggressive enough [against Tonga] and our finishing because we had some good movements but in some of them we didn’t finish well.
“We have faith in these players and if the All Blacks don’t win we’ll seek our qualification with this team.”
Namibia take a 19th crack at that elusive maiden World Cup win but have probably been left with the feeling that their best chance in this tournament came in the 17-16 loss to Georgia on Wednesday.
They go into this final fixture without inspirational captain Jacques Burger, ruled out after picking up a concussion early in their midweek game, or outstanding No.8 Renaldo Bothma.
Bothma was picked on the bench by coach Phil Davies but was banned for two weeks later on Friday after being cited for a dangerous tackle against Georgia.
Victory for Namibia would be a major surprise, but they can take hope from the way Argentina upset the odds in their win in South Africa two months ago.
“If we go out with that guts, character, determination, anything can happen in a game of rugby,” coach Phil Davies said.