Contepomi fit to face Scotland

Argentina captain Felipe Contepomi is set to return from injury for the must-win World Cup Pool B clash with Scotland in Wellington on Sunday.

Also returning from injury is back row Julio Farias Cabello, with Alejandro Campos left out of the matchday 22 altogether and Lucas Gonzalez Ambrosino dropping to the replacements’ bench.

Contepomi’s inclusion means Martin Rodriguez has been moved to full-back.

Contepomi suffered a rib injury in the opening 13-9 loss to England and missed last week’s 43-8 defeat of Romania.

He said: “The idea is to play. Today I had full-on training – it was the day when I was going to try myself, full contact and everything.

“It was okay. It’s not pain free, but I think it worked well.

“Hopefully I will be playing if nothing happens in the next 48 hours.

“Anything can happen in a game, but my idea is to try to play 80 minutes.”

Contepomi has undergone rigorous treatment in order to be fit for a match the Pumas have to win to have any hope of progressing to the quarter-finals.

The former Bristol and Leinster back, now at Stade Francais, added: “I’m taking pain killers, anti-inflammatories and ice after the training session.

“I had a procedure done by the doctor of the team – a small injection of dextrose, it’s glucose, but it’s nothing illegal.

“It’s just time. We knew it was going to be very tight. Luckily I’ve rested enough and I was lucky that it healed quickly.”

Contepomi is happy to be playing at inside centre.

He added: “I have played probably more at 12 than at 10 for Argentina; the same at Toulon, at Leinster I played 12 many times.

“It’s a position I very much like and that I feel very comfortable in. For this game it’s the best option for the team.”

Argentina head coach Santiago Phelan emphasised the importance of Contepomi.

Phelan said: “He’s the captain. He’s important not only as a player, but as the leader of the team.

“He’s in good condition to play and it’s very important for the Argentina team.”

Team: M Rodriguez, G Camacho, M Bosch, F Contepomi (capt), H Agulla, S Fernandez, N Vergallo; R Roncero, M Ledesma, J Figallo, M Carizza, P Albacete, J Farias Cabello, JM Leguizamon, JM Fernandez Lobbe.

Replacements: A Creevy, M Scelzo, M Galarza, G Fessia, A Lalanne, L Gonzalez Amorosino, J Imhoff.