Argentina Undergo Roster Change for Wallabies

Argentina’s roster has undergone a change for the upcoming series against the Wallabies. Los Pumas will begin training together for the two home matches against Australia in Jujuy on August 29 and Mendoza on September 05.

Second-rower Franco Molina is back in a direct swap with the uncapped Franco Carrera. Molina was injured in Argentina’s win over Wales in July. His return sees Carrera back to club duty at Zebre Parma.

There are also temporary call-ups for flanker Agustín Sarelli and hooker Martín Vaca. Both featured for the Argentina XV against the USA in Fort Lauderdale. Sarelli’s inclusion is his second this year. It comes in place of Matera who, alongside Mayco Vivas, will join the roster on Thursday.

 

NOT AVAILABLE

As was the case against South Africa earlier this month, Los Pumas are playing against the odds due to the lack of an official off-season. Player safety sees Felipe Contepomi and staff negotiating directly with clubs. Obtaining players at all times is an impossibility until World Rugby provides the sport with a global season.

Regular captain, Julián Montoya will not face the Wallabies and nor will other senior players including Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy, and Marcos Kremer. Pablo Matera captained Los Pumas against the Springboks but is to join the team late due to personal reasons. The same applies to Mayco Vivas.

UNAVAILABLE LIST
Tomás Albornoz
Matías Alemanno
Mateo Carreras
Santiago Chocobares
Francisco Coria Marchetti
Bautista Delguy
Gonzalo García
Santiago Grondona
Marcos Kremer
Julián Montoya
Joaquin Oviedo
Justo Piccardo

 

INJURED

Front-line players Thomas Gallo, Juan Martin González, Juan Cruz Mallía and Pedro Rubiolo are examples of Pumas sidelined through injuries.  Bautista Bernasconi, Benjamín Elizalde and both debuted for Argentina in 2025 but are sidelined through injuries now. Injury to Eduardo Bello ended his Rugby Championship early in 2024 and he is not yet ready for a recall.

INJURED LIST
Eduardo Bello
Emiliano Boffelli
Bautista Bernasconi
Benjamín Elizalde
Thomas Gallo
Juan Martín González
Juan Cruz Mallía
Franco Molina
Pedro Rubiolo
Joel Sclavi

 

INCOMING TOUR

AUG 29  VS (Estadio 23 de Agosto, San Salvador de Jujuy, AR)
SEP 05  VS (Estádio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza, AR)

 

ARGENTINA ROSTER – FORWARDS

LOOSE HEAD PROP
Rodrigo Martínez (Dragons, UK, 3 caps)
Mayco Vivas (Oyonnax, FR, 43 caps)
Boris Wenger (Harlequins, UK, 9 caps)

HOOKER
Leonel Oviedo (Western Force, AU 1 cap)
Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR, 31 caps)
Martín Vaca (Capibaras, uncapped) *

TIGHT HEAD PROP
Pedro Delgado (Harlequins, UK, 11 caps)
Francisco Moreno (Tarucas, 1 cap)
Tomás Rapetti (Toulouse, FR, 7 caps)

LOOSE HEAD SECOND-ROW
Franco Molina (Newcastle Red Bulls, 21 caps)
Guido Petti (Harlequins, UK, 102 caps)

TIGHT HEAD SECOND-ROW
Efraín Elías (Toulouse, FR, 4 caps)
Tomás Lavanini (Highlanders, NZ, 92 caps)

FLANKER
Facundo Cardozo (Tarucas, uncapped) *
Benjamín Grondona (Bristol Bears, UK, 3 caps)
Pablo Matera (Honda Heat, JP, 125 caps)
Juan Penoucos (Pampas, 1 cap)
Agustín Sarelli (Tarucas, uncapped) *

N8
Joaquin Moro (Leicester Tigers, UK, 6 caps)
Juan Martín Scelzo (Stade Français, FR, 1 cap)

* Invitational

 

ARGENTINA ROSTER – BACKS

SCRUM-HALF
Simón Benítez Cruz Newcastle Red Bulls, UK 13 caps)
Gonzalo Bertranou (California Legion, US, 68 caps)
Agustín Moyano (Western Force, AU, 10 caps)

FLY HALF
Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Racing 92, FR, 5 caps)
Nicolás Roger (Dogos, 3 caps)

INSIDE CENTER
Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos, 3 caps)
Benjamín Ordiz (Capibaras, uncapped) *

OUTSIDE CENTER
Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK, 43 caps)
Agustín Fraga (Pampas, uncapped)
Matías Moroni (Bristol Bears, UK, 98 caps)

WING
Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, UK, 18 caps)
Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT, 6 caps)
Santiago Pernas (Pampas, 1 cap)

FULLBACK
Santiago Carreras (Bath, UK, 68 caps)
Mateo Soler (Dogos, uncapped)
Tobías Wade (Pampas, uncapped)

* Invitational