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| Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga |
There will be no Top 14 Orange action this weekend due to the final round of the Six Nations being played. As such all teams will be fresh and ready to return to action next weekend with the crunch time of the season now well and truly here. Only six rounds remain of the regular season with teams fighting it out for a place in the play-off´s or simply to stay in the Top 14. In the case of Stade Français, the team is in seventh place, two points behind fellow Parisians, Racing Métro and two and three points behind Castres and Montpellier. Castres will host Montpellier next round with the visitors a strong chance for a win. Stade Français will play host to Agen and should alo win, which would put the team back in the top six and get the teams up and down season back on track.
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| Felipe Contepomi |
Stade Français has been one of the best teams this season in particular matches but in others has been less successful. The teams has notched up some impressive wins but also some big losses against teams ranging from Montpellier to Bordeaux-Begles. The teams most recent match, in round 20, was a home match and was a landmark game as it was Paris vs Lyon, France´s two largest cities. Lyon are facing relegatrion and Stade Français are desperate for a return to the play-off´s and a placde in next seasons Heineken Cup. The key to whether or not this eventuates for Stade Français or not seems to sit on the shoulders of one man - Felipe Contepomi. He has been, at times in outstanding form this season and has formed a solid 10-12 combination with fellow Argentine international, Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga. The pair were important players in Stade Français´win over Lyon last Saturday. Rodríguez Gurruchaga scored a try while Felipe Contepomi was involved in creating a number of the Parisians´ tries. He also had a solid afternnon with the oot, scorign 20 points.
The combination is one that could well be replicated at international level this season with the form of Lucas González Amorosino likely to see the Montpellier back used instead of Ródriguez Gurruchaga at fullback. It is a position which he has played at before for Los Pumas. With Felipe Contepomi and Marcelo Bosch both injured in 2009 he made his debut for Argentina at inside centre vs England. More recently he played in the same position vs Romania at last years World Cup. Since returning to club duty, he has been used as Stade Français´ first choice inside centre. Could it be that Contepomi and Rodríguez are Argentina´s 10-12 combination this year?
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