Los Pumas boss looks to the future with Rugby Champs squad
SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT: Felipe Contepomi has named a youth-infused 34-man Argentina squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship.
That means nine Test rookies have made the cut, with two uncapped players joining seven up-and-comers who featured in Los Pumas’ July series losses to England.
Loosehead Prop Boris Wenger and utility back Gerónimo Prisciantelli are the pair searching for their first taste of the international arena.
Injuries to familiar selections Emiliano Boffelli and Thomas Gallo have opened some doors, while the selections of players like 21-year-old Bristol Bears fullback Benjamin Elizalde and 22-year-old scrumhalf Augustine Moyano are a nod to the future and reward for their respective efforts in July.
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After a long season in the Top 14, Ignacio Ruiz, Marcos Kremer, Santiago Chocobares, Bautista Delguy and Juan Cruz Mallía are back in the squad. The quintet were rested during July.
The likes of Matías Moroni, Tomás Lavanini, and Gonzalo Bertranou have all missed selection after big contributions to the team in recent seasons.
The South Americans’ campaign opener comes at home against New Zealand on August 16.
Argentina squad:
Forwards: Bautista Bernasconi, Francisco Coria Marchetti, Nicolás D´Amorim*, Pedro Delgado, Juan Martín González, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Franco Molina, Julián Montoya, Joaquín Oviedo, Lucas Paulos, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Joel Sclavi, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Mayco Vivas, Boris Wenger*.
Backs: Tomás Albornoz, Simón Benítez Cruz, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Bautista Delguy, Benjamín Elizalde, Gonzalo García, Rodrigo Isgró, Juan Cruz Mallía, Ignacio Mendy, Agustín Moyano, Justo Piccardo, Gerónimo Prisciantelli.
By Ned Lester, @RugbyPass