Argentina Make Roster Changes for Wales

Argentina has made roster changes for the upcoming home test match against Wales. Three French Top 14 players have been added to prepare for the test match at there Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan on Saturday, July 11.

The new trio are Efraín Elías (Toulouse), Justo Piccardo (Montpellier), and Marcos Kremer (Clermont). Piccardo was a try-scorer for Montpellier in the Top 14 Final. Santiago Chocobares has not been added with him having been given rest time instead. Juan Cruz Mallía continuers his recovery following his serious injury against England last November.

Los Pumas will be looking bounce back from their lackluster performance that saw them humbled by Scotland in Córdoba. The return of Kremer looms as a vital part of the puzzle. His physicalness was notably missing against Scotland.

Elías replaces Luciano Asevedo who drops out of the roster as does fullback Mateo Soler. Both players remain uncapped by Los Pumas. Flankers Juan Penoucos and Agustín Sarelli and center Agustín Fraga remain on the roster as invitational players.

Contepomi has four specialist second-rowers with Efraín Elías and Matías Alemanno covering the tight-head position. Marcos Kremer also coverts tight-head second-row and started there against Wales in November. With Luciano Asevedo having been released there is a strong indication that a different player will start in the 5 jersey in San Juan compared to in Córdoba against Scotland.

Piccardo returns to bolster the mid-field options. His regular position is inside center though has also started at outside center. He joins Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, Lucino Cinti and Matías Moroni as Felipe Contepomi’s center options to face Wales.

 

JULY FIXTURES – NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP

JULY 04 47-38 (Estadio Mario Kempes, Córdoba, AR)

JULY 11 VS(Estadio Bicentenario, San Juan, AR)

JULY 18 VS(Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades, Santiago del Estero, AR)

 

ARGENTINA ROSTER – FORWARDS

LOOSE HEAD PROP
Mayco Vivas (Oyonnax, FR, 40 caps)
Boris Wenger (Harlequins, UK, 6 caps)

HOOKER
Julián Montoya (Pau, FR, 118 caps)
Leonel Oviedo (Western Force, AU uncapped)
Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR, 27 caps)

TIGHT HEAD PROP
Francisco Coria Marchetti (Brive, FR, 8 caps)
Pedro Delgado (Harlequins, UK, 10 caps)
Tomás Rapetti (Toulouse, FR, 4 caps)

LOOSE HEAD SECOND-ROW
Franco Molina (Newcastle Red Bulls, UK, 20 caps)
Guido Petti (Harlequins, UK, 99 caps)

TIGHT HEAD SECOND-ROW
Matías Alemanno (Vannes, FR, 100 caps)
Efraín Elías (Toulouse, FR, 2 caps)

FLANKER
Santiago Grondona (Pau, FR, 26 caps)
Marcos Kremer (Clermont, FR, 81 caps)
Pablo Matera (Honda Heat, JP, 122 caps)
Juan Penoucos (Pampas, uncapped) *
Agustín Sarelli (Tarucas, uncapped) *

N8
Joaquin Moro (Leicester Tigers, UK, 4 caps)
Joaquin Oviedo (Perpignan, FR, 23 caps)

* Invitational

 

ARGENTINA ROSTER – BACKS

SCRUM-HALF
Simón Benítez Cruz Newcastle Red Bulls, UK 10 caps)
Gonzalo García (Pau, FR, 17 caps)
Agustín Moyano (Western Force, AU, 9 caps)

FLY HALF
Tomás Albornoz (Toulon, FR, 22 caps)
Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Racing 92, FR, 4 caps)
Nicolás Roger (Dogos, 3 caps)

INSIDE CENTER
Justo Piccardo (Montpellier, FR, 11 caps)
Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos, 2 caps)

OUTSIDE CENTER
Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK, 40 caps)
Agustín Fraga (Pampas, uncapped) *
Matías Moroni (Bristol Bears, UK, 95 caps)

WING
Mateo Carreras (Bayonne, FR, 34 caps)
Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR, 40 caps)
Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, UK, 17 caps)
Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT, 4 caps)

FULLBACK
Santiago Carreras (Bath, UK, 65 caps)

* Invitational