France have point to prove against Pumas in battle for bronze

FRANCE captain Raphael Ibanez insists the stakes remain high going into his side’s World Cup bronze-medal match against Argentina today.

The tournament’s play-off for third and fourth place is seen by many as a non-event but it has some added spice this time round.

Les Bleus took a blow to their pride in losing to the Pumas 17-12 on the opening night of the competition, and the hosts will be gunning for revenge.

It also signifies the last match as France coach for Bernard Laporte, while a number of the team’s players — such as Fabien Pelous and Ibanez — will probably bid farewell to the international game.

From Argentina’s point of view, they will be looking to again show they are worthy of a place on rugby’s top table and are a force to be reckoned with.

Both teams are taking it seriously, with Ibanez labelling it a ‘special match’. “Any match for the French team should be treated with due respect,” said the Wasps hooker, whose side lost to England in heartbreaking fashion in last Saturday’s semi-final.

“Argentina hurt us during the opening match, so it’s obviously going to be a special match.

“We’re kind of in-between at the moment — we’re halfway between the loss in the semi-final and the bronze-medal match,” added Ibanez.

“But that’s normal. It takes time to deal with that kind of thing.”

Laporte, who will take up a role as junior minister for sport in Nicolas Sarkozy’s French government after the World Cup, believes the match is important in view of the forthcoming RBS 6 Nations Championship.

“Many will be eager to put on a good show as their career is continuing,” he said. In three months’ time, there’s the Six Nations.

Laporte has made a host of changes to the side that lost 14-9 to England.

Clement Poitrenaud, Aurelien Rougerie and David Skrela return in the backs, with the latter lining up at centre.

He was originally set to partner Damien Traille in midfield, but the Biarritz man has been ruled out with a knee injury, his place going to David Marty. In the pack, only Ibanez, prop Pieter de Villiers, lock Jerome Thion and flanker Thierry Dusautoir keep their places.

Argentina have made five changes, four coming up front. Hooker Alberto Vernet Basualdo, prop Omar Hasan, lock Rimas Alvarez Kairelis and flanker Martin Durand are the forwards recalled, while winger Federico Martin Aramburu comes in behind the scrum.

Captain Agustin Pichot keeps his place at scrum-half.