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Preview: Argentina vs Namibia

The two teams have had contrasting fortunes at this year's World Cup. After losing to New Zealand 16-26 in their opening game, Argentina won their next two games against Georgia and Tonga with a bonus point to secure their place in the knockout round.

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Namibia on the hand have lost all three of their games in Pool C, but were competitive in each of those losses. Probably their best performance of the World Cup so far was their 16-17 defeat at the hands of Georgia.

The Namibians were close to picking up their first-ever World Cup victory in that game against the eastern Europeans and showed a competiveness that we seldom saw from the Africans. That game also marked the final appearance of captain Jacques Burger who retired from international rugby soon after the game after picking up an injury.

Like Argentina, they have made plenty of changes to their team for this final pool clash and that might just hamper any rhythm or momentum they picked up against Georgia in midweek.

Argentina's changes are more based on ensuring that some of their top players are given a rest before their quarterfinal clash against either France or Ireland next week. However, on paper the team to face Namibia is still a strong one with players like Juan Martin Hernandez, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Martin Martin Landajo and Pablo Matera all in the starting XV.

These two teams have met on two occasions in the past and both have been at World Cups. Argentina are also unbeaten in this fixture.

Their first-ever meeting was at the 2003 World Cup in Australia where Argentina won 67-14 in Gosford. It was more of the same four years later in France where Argentina put in another dominant performance to win 63-3 in Marseille.

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As it stands on the current world rankings, Argentina have moved up one place from eighth to seventh, while Namibia remain in 20th place.

Players to watch: 

For Argentina: Juan Martin Hernandez has done a good job at centre for Los Pumas, but it is at flyhalf where he is at his best and most comfortable at. Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino is another player to lookout for with his ability to break through a gap. Like Hernandez he is sure to keep the Namibian defence busy. Up front lock Guido Petti is an abrasive player and is a strong ball carrier, while flank Pablo Matera is a nuisance at the breakdowns.

For Namibia: Flyhalf Theuns Kotze is a veteran and his experience on the field can cause the Argentinians a problem or two. Fullback Chrysander Botha has a lot of pace to burn and if given space he can will be a thorn in the Argentinian defence. Up front Rohan Kitshoff has been given the role of captain and deservedly so as he brings a 100 percent to every single game he is involved in. 

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Head to head: Namibia prop Johannes Coetzee will have a tough day at the office in the scrums as well be up against Lucas Noguera, while the battle at the breakdown should by intriguing one with the talents of Pablo Matera and Rohan Kitshoff. There is also the battle of the two veterans at flyhalf, however there is a gulf in class between Juan Martin Hernandez and Theuns Kotze.

Previous results:

2007: Argentina won 63-3, Marseille

2003: Argentina won 67-14, Gosford

Prediction: Argentina are in a different class to Namibia so expect them to win by at least 30 points.

Teams:

Argentina: 15 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 14 Matias Moroni, 13 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 12 Juan Pablo Socino, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martin Hernandez, 9 Martin Landajo (captain), 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 2 Julian Montoya, 1 Lucas Noguera.   

Replacements: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Ramiro Herrera, 19 Leonardo Senatore, 20 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Marcelo Bosch, 23 Juan Imhoff.

Namibia: 15 Chrysander Botha, 14  Johan Tromp, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Johan Deysel, 11 Conrad Marais, 10 Theuns Kotze, 9 Eneill Buitendag, 8 Leneve Damens, 7 Wian Conradie, 6 Rohan Kitshoff (captain), 5 Tijuee Uanivi, 4 Janco Venter, 3 Johannes Coetzee, 2 Torsten Van Jaarsveld, 1 Jaco Engels.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Johnny Redelinghuys, 18 Raoul Larson, 19 Renaldo Bothma, 20 Tinus du Plessis, 21 PJ Van Lill, 22 Eugene Jantjes, 23 Heinrich Smit.

Date: Sunday, October 11

Venue: Leicester City Stadium, Leicester

Kick-off: 12.00 (11.00 GMT; 08.00 ART, 13.00 Namibian time)

Expected weather: Partly cloudy with a high of 13 and a light breeze.

Referee: Pascal Gauzère (France)

Assistant referees: Jérôme Garcès (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

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