Los Pumas gear up for brutal Boks
RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SPOTLIGHT: Argentina coach Mario Ledesma says his team is geared for two “very physical” matches against South Africa.
The world champion Springboks, fresh from their two-one series win over the British and Irish Lions, host Los Pumas at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth the next two Saturdays.
It is the opening rounds of the revamped Rugby Championships, before both teams head to Australasia for the next four weeks of matches against the All Blacks and Wallabies.
“It will be a huge physical challenge, especially in this first part,” he said of the opening fortnight.
He added that they are working on aspects of their game that were showed up during their July Tests – a 20-all draw against Wales in the opening Test and a 33-11 demolition of the same opposition a week later.
“There were aspects of our game that improved throughout the July tour, especially at the intensity of the forwards,” he said.
However, he felt the backs still require some work.
“The kicking game and the passing game are going to be huge challenges, so we are concentrating on that,” he said of their build-up to the two Bok Tests.
The squad, to be captained by Julián Montoya, is made up mostly of their European-based players.
Argentina Rugby Championship squad
1 Alemanno, Matías – GLOUCESTER (England)
2 Bertranou, Gonzalo – DRAGONS (Wales)
3 Boffelli, Emiliano – EDINBURGH (Scotland)
4 Bosch, Facundo – LA ROCHELLE (France)
5 Bruni, Rodrigo – VANNES (France)
6 Cancelliere, Sebastián – GLASGOW (Scotland)
7 Carreras, Mateo – NEWCASTLE (England)
8 Carreras, Santiago – GLOUCESTER (England)
9 Chocobares, Santiago – TOULOUSE (France)
10 Cinti, Lucio – LA PLATA (URBA)
11 Cordero, Santiago – BORDEAUX-BEGLES (France)
12 Cubelli, Tomás – BIARRITZ (France)
13 De la Fuente, Jerónimo – PERPIGNAN (France)
14 Delguy, Bautista – PERPIGNAN (France)
15 Díaz Bonilla, Joaquín – LIBRE
16 Ezcurra, Felipe – Argentina
17 Fernandez Criado, Rodrigo – BELGRANO ATHLETIC (URBA)
18 Gallo, Thomas – BENETTON TREVISO (Italy)
19 Gigena, Facundo – LONDON IRISH (England)
20 Gomez Kodela, Francisco – LYON (France)
21 González Samso, Juan Martín – MARISTA (CUYO)
22 Gorrissen, Francisco – Argentina
23 Isa, Facundo – TOULON (France)
24 Kremer, Marcos – STADE FRANCAIS (France)
25 Lavanini, Tomás – CLERMONT (France)
26 Lezana, Tomás – SCARLETS (Wales)
27 Mallía, Juan Cruz – TOULOUSE (France)
28 Mare, Santiago – Argentina
29 Martínez Manzano, Rodrigo – LOS TORDOS (CUYO)
30 Matera, Pablo – LIBRE
31 Medrano, Santiago – FORCE (Australia)
32 Mendy, Ignacio – Argentina
33 Miotti, Domingo – GLASGOW (Scotland)
34 Moneta, Marcos – SAN ANDRÉS (URBA)
35 Montoya, Julián (captain) – LEICESTER (England)
36 Moroni, Matías – LEICESTER (England)
37 Muzzio, Carlos – MONT DE MARSAN (France)
38 Orlando, Matías – NEWCASTLE (England)
39 Oviedo, Joaquín – PERPIGNAN (France)
40 Petti, Guido – BORDEAUX-BEGLES (France)
41 Pieretto, Enrique – GLASGOW (Scotland)
42 Ruiz, Ignacio – REGATAS (URBA)
43 Sánchez, Nicolás – STADE FRANCAIS (France)
44 Sclavi, Joel – LA ROCHELLE (France)
45 Socino, Santiago – GLOUCESTER (England)
46 Tetaz Chaparro, Nahuel – BENETTON TREVISO (Italy)
47 Zeiss, Juan Pablo – Argentina
¡Así fue la primera práctica de @lospumas en la Pearson High School de Port Elizabeth!
¡Agendá!
🏉 @Springboks
📅 Sábado 14
⏰ 12:05 (hora 🇦🇷)
🏟 Nelson Mandela Bay 🇿🇦
📺 ESPN#VamosLosPumas #VamosArgentina pic.twitter.com/saZCgQVXBm— Los Pumas (@lospumas) August 9, 2021
