Loffreda picks Pumas for Patagonia
Dramas put to one side as Test looms
Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has named the 22-man squad for Sunday's Test against Wales in Puerto Madryn.
The game will be played at the Raul Conti Stadium and is the first of two Test matches against the 2005 Six Nations champions.
Argentina will face Wales on June 11 in Puerto Madryn and on June 17 at the Jose Amalfitani Stadium in Buenos Aires. They then host the All Blacks in the capital on June 24.
Meanwhile, Argentina No.8 Gonzalo Longo believes his side can put their domestic troubles to one side and perform well in the upcoming Test.
Longo is one of the 60 players who has taken industrial action against the Argentina Rugby Union (UAR) in a dispute over payments and facilities, but after agreeing to play the games against Wales, it appears the impasse has been breached.
And now the ASM Montferrand player hopes they can find a silver lining by recording a series win over Wales in the coming fortnight, starting with the clash in Puerto Madryn.
"This problem made us lose a lot of time and it's tiring, because some players have been fighting for this for six months.
"But I think this problem will make us stronger and I have a lot of faith in this team.
"What I liked the most is that there weren't only 15 or 20 players who reacted. We were 60-strong. And there were young players who haven't played many matches in the national team but who backed us anyway.
"I hope now we can show on the pitch that we're a united group."
Of opponents Wales he also has inside knowledge, with club-mate Stephen Jones playing for the tourists.
"According to what Stephen Jones told me, it is a young team, with good players," said the Argentinian.
"However, I think they will be tough because the players who are coming in are the ones who want to win a berth in the World Cup squad."
The Pumas will meet on Monday evening in Buenos Aires before flying to Puerto Madryn.
Argentina squad: Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan, France), Marcos Ayerza (Newman), Lucas Borges (Stade Français, France), Rafael Carballo (Toulon, France), Federico Serra Miras (SIC), Martin Durand (Montpellier, France), Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks, England), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Liceo Naval), Nicolas Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), Pablo Gambarini (CASI), Juan Martin Hernández (Stade Français, France), Mario Ledesma (Montferrand, France), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (London Irish, England), Francisco Leonelli (Edinburgh Gunners, Scotland), Gonzalo Longo (Montferrand, France), Jose Maria Nuñez Piossek (Bayonne, France), Martin Schusterman (Plymouth Albion, England), Agustín Pichot (Stade Français, France), Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Français, France), Martin Scelzo (Montferrand, France), Gonzalo Tiesi (London Irish, England), Federico Todeschini (Beziers Rugby, France).
