Los Pumas call up Racing prop for Boks

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Argentina coach Felipe Contepomi has recalled French-based prop Lucio Sordoni for the last two rounds of the Rugby Championship, against South Africa.

Contepomi named a 24-man squad on Wednesday, for the games at Estadio Único Madre de Ciudades (in Santiago del Estero), on Saturday, September 21 and the Mbombela Stadium (in Nelspruit) a week later.

Sordoni, 26, was called up in place of Eduardo Bello – who is to undergo surgery after suffering an anterior cruciate ligament injury to his right knee in the 67-27 rout of Australia in Santa Fe last week.

Veteran centre Ignacio Calles and France-based prop Matías Moroni were also recalled to the squad.

Sordoni joined Racing 92 as a ‘medical joker’ to cover for French test prop Demba Bamba, who has undergone knee surgery which will see him out of action for many months.

He played two seasons in the United Rugby Championship for the defending champions Glasgow Warriors, but missed last season’s play-offs with a foot injury.

Before playing in Scotland, Sordoni also played Super Rugby in Argentina for Los Jaguares and in Australia for the Melbourne Rebels.

He also had a trial with Mont de Marsan but injury prevented him from playing in the Pro D2.

Los Pumas is the only team that can challenge the table-topping Springboks for the title.

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“The Rugby Championship final is coming up and it is a very important moment for us, given that we are going to face the two-time world champions,” Contepomi said.

The Los Pumas squad will gather on Friday in Santiago to prepare for next week’s crunch match.

Argentina squad

FORWARDS: Bautista Bernasconi, Ignacio Calles, Pedro Delgado, Thomas Gallo, Juan Martin González, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Matías Medrano, Franco Molina, Julián Montoya, Joaquín Moro, Joaquín Oviedo, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Joel Sclavi, Lucio Sordoni.

BACKS: Tomás Albornoz, Lautaro Bazán Vélez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Bautista Delguy, Gonzalo García, Rodrigo Isgró, Juan Cruz Mallía, Ignacio Mendy, Matías Moroni, Matías Orlando, Justo Piccardo.