Second row blow for Pumas
Toulouse and Argentina lock Patricio Albacete needs surgery on an eye-socket injury and will be out of action for a month.
"Albacete neeeds an operation and he'll need 30 days to recover," the UAR confirmed.
Toulouse had originally asked Argentina to leave Albacete at his club for a key Top-14 clash with local rivals Montpellier next weekend on the eve of Argentina's European tour Test with Wales in Cardiff.
But in Thursday's Top-14 game with Racing-Metro he took a nasty knock.
The UAR have also freed two key Biarritz players – prop Marcelo Kodela and centre Marcelo Bosch – for their clash with Perpignan on November 10.
They too miss the trip to Cardiff but will be free for the game against France in Lille November 17.
On a happier note, Argentina have recalled former captain, 35-year-old Felipe Contepomi, who last played for the Pumas in the 59-10 thrashing by France in June.
Albacete will be replaced by Tomas Vallejos, and Kodela and Bosch by Argentina-based Juan Gomez and Contepomi.
AFP
