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Argentina XV Head Coach Felipe Contepomi has named a highly aggressive team to face Canada. In naming his side he has declared to attack the North Americans in Langford.
As a player Contepomi was a part of the changing of the guard. From Grizz Wylie’s tight game plan to increasingly open rugby, Contepomi experienced first hand the evolution of Pumas play. He is now looking to continue the transformation by having the Argentina XV play with flair against Canada.
A mobile pack will look to provide quick ball to a backline packed with Los Pumas 7’s and Pumitas players. 22-year-old Lautaro Bavaro will lead the side from flanker. He is to be joined by Tomás de La Vega in the back-row. His inclusion is a tremendous boost for Argentine rugby with an eye to what is on the horizon this year.
de La Vega is expected to play Super Rugby sooner rather than later. He joined Cristian Bartolini and Juan Cruz Guillemáin as forwards connected to the Jaguares project.
The presence of Santiago Álvarez, Bautista Delguy and Fernando Luna is going to be central to Argentina’s attacking nature. The trio are all closing in on Pumas involvement. They will look to link with young Domingo Miotti, a player who at just 19 started against the senior USA side a year ago.
The remainder of the selected players have e also all been chosen based on merit. All have been identified from a young age and have gone through the PladAR system accordingly.
ARGENTINA XV
1 Franco Brarda, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Cristian Bartoloni, 4 Juan Cruz Guillemaín, 5 Pedro Ortega, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Tomás de la Vega, 9 Sebastián Cancelliere, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Santiago Álvarez, 12 Bruno Devoto, 13 Juan Cappiello, 14 Fernando Luna, 15 Bautista Delguy
RESERVES: 16 Marcelo Brandi, 17 Nicolás Solveyra, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Juan Manuel Lescano, 22 Tomás Granella, 23 Segundo Tuculet
