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Los Pumas will have a different leader this coming Saturday. Regular captain, Julián Montoya will not be available for Argentina against Italy. The Azzurri host the South Americans in a Nations Championship clash at Genoa.
Montoya left the field early last Friday against Ireland in Dublin. The loss of the captain was a disruption but far from the only one as his replacement, Leonel Oviedo, also underwent HIA assessments during the contest. The outcome is Montoya is out for 12 days due to HIA protocols.
Felipe Contepomi responded before the outcome was official. The head coach of Los Pumas added Facundo Bosch and Bautista Bernasconi to the roster. Neither has played for Los Pumas in 2026 and Bosch last played for Argentina in 2021. Bernasconi earned 3 caps in July 2025.
It remains to be seen whether Oviedo will be fit to play. Thus, Bosch and Bernasconi may both be included in the 23 to face Italy. Their inclusion on the roster comes with Montoya’s regular understudy, Ignacio Ruiz currently out through injury.
 ROSTER – HOOKER |
| POS | PLAYER | AGE | CLUB | CAPS |
| HK | Bautista Bernasconi | 25 | Benetton (IT) | 3 |
| HK | Facundo Bosch | 35 | Bayonne (FR) | 12 |
| HK | Julián Montoya | 32 | Pau (FR) | 121 |
| HK | Leonel Oviedo | 28 | Western Force (AU) | 4 |
Injuries have also hampered the position of fullback. Two vice-captains used by Contepomi are out. Juan Cruz Mallía suffered a sprained knee against Ireland while veteran Santiago Carreras is out for the year and 2025 rookie Benjamín Elizalde is also injured.
Adjustments to the roster saw Tobías Wade called-up. The uncapped player is a former regular for Los Pumas 7’s and plays his rugby in Italy. He featured for the Argentina XV vs England A this past Friday. Wade will be looking for his first cap while Mateo Soler is in search of his second.
Another option for the #15 shirt is for Gerónimo Prisciantelli to start rather than repeating his role against Ireland which was the replacement fly-half. A further possibility is for winger Ignacio Mendy to cover fullback as he previously did at u20 level.
| POS | PLAYER | AGE | CLUB | CAPS |
| FB/FH | Gerónimo Prisciantelli | 27 | Racing 92 (FR) | 7 |
| FB/WI | Mateo Soler | 23 | Dogos | 1 |
| FB | Tobías Wade | 27 | Zebre Parma (IT) | – |
