World Cup Over for Puma's Lobbe

Argentina back rower Juan Fernandez Lobbe is out of the World Cup with a torn ligament in his left knee.

The Pumas vice-captain, who plays for Toulon, picked up the injury in the 13-12 win over Scotland on Sunday and is likely to be out for about six months.

Coach Santiago Phelan has yet to decide whether to call for a replacement.

If Argentina beat Georgia in their final game in Pool B and pick up a four-try bonus point, they will advance to the quarter-finals.

Pumas captain Felipe Contepomi said: "We haven't achieved anything yet. Now we are in the driving seat in playing Georgia and trying to get qualification. That's what we're here for."

Argentina had already lost Gonzalo Tiesi to a sprained ankle, but Rodrigo Roncero, who pulled a muscle in his left thigh, is expected to recover in time for Saturday's match.

Juan Manuel Leguizamon sprained his ankle and suffered a blow to an eye against Scotland but neither injury is thought to be serious.

Phelan Names Puma England Side

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan says he has named his strongest line-up for their World Cup opener against England.

Phelan makes one change from the side that lost 28-13 to Wales in August with outside centre Gonzalo Tiesi recalled in place of Marcelo Bosch.

"We think for this game and at this moment it is the best team we have," said Phelan ahead of the Pool B clash.

Prop Juan Figallo, 23, retains his place in the front row with the experienced Martin Scelzo on the bench.

"We know he is a young player but he is developing very well," added Phelan.

"He had a very good year at [club side] Montpellier and we think he is the best option for the right prop and also he can play left so Figallo is a very good option.

"We have Scelzo on the bench and that's also a right prop in good condition."

The Pumas side includes Exeter wing Gonzalo Camacho and Leicester flyer Horacio Agulla, with London Irish scrum-half Alfredo Lalanne on the bench, but there is no place for Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza.

Fly-half Felipe Contepomi captains the side in his fourth World Cup along with 38-year-old hooker Mario Ledesma.

Despite being top seeds in Pool B, England are strong favourites for the game in Dunedin after Argentina's disrupted World Cup preparation.

A lack of matches and the loss of talismanic fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez with a knee injury, means emulating their surprise third-place finish four years ago will be difficult.

If England overcome Argentina on Saturday and emerge as group winners, France and Australia may again provide the knock-out barriers in their path to a possible record third successive final.

Contepomi said: "We've only played one Test match in the last 11 months, so naturally we're looking forward to growing up as a team throughout the tournament.

"Our expectation is to come and play our best and if we can be competitive on Saturday, that will be great and start the tournament as best we can."

Argentina: Martin Rodriguez, Gonzalo Camacho, Gonzalo Tiesi, Santiago Fernandez, Horacio Agulla, Felipe Contepomi (captain), Nicolas Vergallo, Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Juan Figallo, Manuel Carizza, Patricio Albacete, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Fernandez Lobbe.

Replacements: Agustin Creevy, Martin Scelzo, Mariano Galarza, Alejandro Campos, Alfredo Lalanne, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Jose Imhoff.