Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has named an unchanged XV for Sunday’s quarter-final clash with Scotland at Stade de France in Paris, welcoming Felipe Contepomi shrugging off ‘flu to take his place at inside centre.

Argentina: 15 Ignacio Corleto, 14 Lucas Borges, 13 Manuel Contepomi, 12 Felipe Contepomi, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Juan Martín Hernández, 9 Agustín Pichot (c), 8 Gonzalo Longo, 7 Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Lucas Ostiglia, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, 3 Juan Martín Scelzo, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Omar Hasan, 18 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, 19 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 20 Nicolás Fernandez Miranda, 21 Federico Todeschini, 22 Hernán Senillosa.

Scotland will take on Argentina in Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final in Paris with the same starting line-up and replacements that beat Italy 18-16. “We are getting to the stage where we have a group of guys who have played five games together in seven weeks,” said head coach Frank Hadden.

“It made sense to go with a side that is prepared for this.”

Scott Murray fails to make the 22 while Rob Dewey beats Andrew Henderson to the inside-centre berth.

Hadden has picked Nathan Hines and James Hamilton as his starting locks, with Scott MacLeod on the bench.

Scotland have not beaten Argentina since 1990 but Hadden hopes continuity of selection will work in his favour at the Stade de France.

“We have made progress and we are expecting an even bigger performance this weekend,” said Hadden.

“There are plenty of tools in the tool box. Now it is just a case of using the right tool in the right place and at the right time in this important match.”

The Scots will hope to continue their remarkable kicking record – they are the only side who have not missed one in this World Cup.

Argentina are sweating on the fitness of goalkicker and leading points scorer Felipe Contepomi, who has flu.

Contepomi did not take part in Wednesday’s evening training session, but team doctor Mario Larrain is hopeful he will be able to play.

Contepomi has played at fly-half and inside centre for the Pumas and is likely to line up in the centres alongside brother Manuel against Scotland.

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Scotland XV: Rory Lamont; Sean Lamont, Simon Webster, Rob Dewey, Chris Paterson; Dan Parks Mike Blair; Gavin Kerr, Ross Ford, Euan Murray, Nathan Hines, Jim Hamilton, Jason White (captain), Allister Hogg, Simon Taylor.
Replacements: Scott Lawson, Craig Smith, Scott MacLeod, Kelly Brown, Chris Cusiter, Andrew Henderson, Hugo Southwell.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has led tributes to former Scotland and British Lions full-back Bruce Hay, who has died aged 57.

 
Bruce, who played 23 internationals for Scotland between 1975 and 1982, had been suffering from a brain tumour.

“Bruce’s contribution to Scottish rugby has been simply immense. It’s terribly sad,” Hadden said.

The former Boroughmuir and Liberton player made his Scotland debut against New Zealand in 1975.

Hay, who also coached Scotland U-19s, was well respected throughout the game.

He was born on 23 May 1950 in Edinburgh and was educated at Liberton High School before embarking on a career as a mining engineer and, latterly, as a sales representative.

His played his early rugby with the Liberton club before joining Boroughmuir in 1972.

The full-back won 23 caps, making his debut at full-back at Eden Park.

Hay was selected for the British and Irish Lions tours to New Zealand and South Africa in 1977 and 1980.

He made his final international appearance against the All Blacks in 1982.

In May, his two former clubs staged a charity match at Kirkbrae Park with all the proceeds going to the Western General’s neurology unit, where Hay underwent treatment.

All but one of Bruce’s internationals and his three Tests for the Lions were played alongside his close friend and rival, Andy Irvine.

Irvine said: “If he’d been playing today, he would have won 50/60 caps.

  “For seven years he was involved in every game – playing or on the bench.

“He came from an unfashionable club. He went on to play senior rugby with Boroughmuir, but he always held on to his Liberton roots.”

Scotland’s rugby World Cup squad took time out of their preparations for Sunday’s quarter-final against Argentina in Paris to pay tribute.

Hadden said: “My personal dealings with him started when he was manager with Scotland under-19 and he brought a tremendous enthusiasm, commitment and ability – just as he had showed as a player – to that role.

“If there was a more popular man in the game then I have yet to meet him.”

Scotland captain Jason White described Hay as “a genuine guy” who was well-respected throughout rugby.

“On behalf of all the players, I extend our sympathies to his family and friends,” White added.

Scotland edged into the quarter-finals of the World Cup after a tense win over Italy in rain-lashed St Etienne.

Once again Scotland had the unerring kicking of Chris Paterson to thank, with the winger knocking over six penalties from six attempts.

Italy skipper Alessandro Troncon bundled over for a first half try and David Bortolussi kept Italy in touch.

Neither side showed much in the way of attacking ambition but the Scots showed superior discipline to progress.

In the last eight Scotland will play the winners of Pool D, who are likely to be either Argentina or France.

Scotland made a bright start with Paterson confidently clipping over two penalties inside the first five minutes.

And, when Mauro Bergamasco was sin-binned for a cynical challenge on Simon Taylor, Scotland looked ready to seize the initiative and build on their early lead.

However, the Italians recovered from a jittery opening to come roaring back and a huge up-and-under from Ramiro Pez resulted in a bruising game’s only try.

Mirco Bergamasco flattened the referee as he followed up and appeared to take Rory Lamont out before the dropping ball had reached the Scot.

From the resulting ruck, Troncon burst over from close range to put Italy into the lead.

Bortolussi landed the conversion before stretching the advantage with a long range penalty.

Mirco Bergamasco should have been the second Italian to have a yellow card but the officials somehow missed a blatant trip on Dan Parks.

There was a further blow for Scotland when influential full-back Rory Lamont had to be replaced by Hugo Southwell, following a bone-shuddering collision with Andrea Masi.

But the dependable Paterson slotted two more penalties to give Scotland a narrow lead at the interval.

After the break Bortolussi was inches short with a long range penalty and Paterson tucked over a close range effort after a dangerous Scottish break.

The Gloucester signing made it six from six as Italian indiscipline gifted the Scots another cheap three points.

Nathan Hines was then sin-binned for a high tackle after a slick passing move from Italy, who were showing marginally more imagination with the ball in attack.

Bortolussi kicked the penalty and the impressive fullback narrowed the gap to two points as Italy enjoyed their man advantage.

Scotland had a rare glimpse of the try-line when a Pez clearance kick was charged down but the bouncing ball would not fall the way of Frank Hadden’s side.

Scottish nerves were frayed when Italy won a 75th minute penalty but Bortolussi was again just out of luck from a long way out.

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Scotland: R Lamont; S Lamont, Webster, Dewey, Paterson; Parks, Blair; Kerr, Ford, Murray, Hines, Hamilton, White (capt), Hogg, Taylor.
Replacements: Lawson, Smith, MacLeod, Brown, Cusiter, Henderson, Southwell.

Italy Bortolussi; Robertson, Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, Masi; Pez, Troncon (capt); Perugini, Festuccia, Castrogiovanni, Dellape, Del Fava, Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, Parisse.
Replacements: Ongaro, Lo Cicero, Bernabo, Ghiraldini, Griffen, De Marigny, Galon.

Scotland have named the same team that defeated Romania for Saturday’s crucial World Cup clash with Italy.

The 13 players rested against New Zealand return and wing Chris Paterson has recovered from a poke in the eye.

Italy captain Marco Bortolami misses the winner-takes-all match in St Etienne, with the lock suffering from hamstring and neck problems.

But second row Santiago Dellape, flanker Josh Sole and number eight Sergio Parisse have shaken off knocks.

“We give Italy the utmost respect,” said Scotland head coach Frank Hadden.

“Not only did they win their last match against us but we have always found Italy a difficult side to play against.”

But Hadden is expecting his fresh side to give a good account of themselves.

“We are happy with where we are at present,” he added.

“We expect the side selected for Saturday to step up a gear and make the bold statement that we want to make at this World Cup.”

Italy failed to impress in their 31-5 win over Portugal last week, and coach Pierre Berbizier has made several changes to the line-up.

Prop Salvatore Perugini, hooker Carlo Festuccia and flanker Sole are all recalled, with Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini and Manoa Vosawai missing out on selection.

Ramiro Pez starts in place of Roland de Marigny at fly-half, while there are returns for winger Kaine Robertson and centre Mirco Bergamasco.

With Bortolami absent, scrum-half Alessandro Troncon will captain Italy on his 101st appearance.

Paterson, who was used at fly-half in Scotland’s warm-up matches, will be winning his 80th cap for Scotland.

And the versatile star said: “Saturday’s game is make or break.

“Italy have a good record against us and are above us in the rankings.

“They’re a quality side with massive playing numbers.

“However, it’s a game we know we can win and must win, and we must put all the hard work we’ve done over the summer together on Saturday night.”

Hugo Southwell and Scott MacLeod have recovered from minor knocks to take their places on the Scotland bench.

Andrew Henderson will provide cover for the centre pairing of Simon Webster and Rob Dewey, having recovered from injury in time to play in the 40-0 defeat to New Zealand.

In this year’s Six Nations Championship, Italy won 37-17 at Murrayfield to claim their first ever away victory in the tournament.

On that occasion, the Scots gifted their opponents three soft tries in the opening six minutes.

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Scotland: R Lamont; S Lamont, S Webster, R Dewey, C Paterson; D Parks, M Blair; G Kerr, R Ford, E Murray, N Hines, J Hamilton, J White (capt), A Hogg, S Taylor.
Replacements: S Lawson , C Smith, S MacLeod, K Brown, C Cusiter, A Henderson, H Southwell.

Italy D Bortolussi; K Robertson, G Canale, Mirco Bergamasco, A Masi; R Pez, A Troncon (capt); S Perugini, C Festuccia, M Castrogiovanni, S Dellape, C Del Fava, J Sole, Mauro Bergamasco, S Parisse.
Replacements: F Ongaro, A Lo Cicero, V Bernabo, L Ghiraldini, P Griffen, R de Marigny, E Galon.