10 Prem stars named in Argentina's squad; 91-cap veteran misses out

Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has named five uncapped players in his 34-strong squad for the upcoming Nations Championship fixtures against Scotland, Wales and England.

One of the quintet is Western Force hooker Leonel Oviedo, the older brother of established number eight, Joaquín Oviedo. The others are domestic-based players in Super Rugby Americas – Luciano Asevedo and Juan Penoucos in the forwards and Agustín Fraga and Mateo Soler in the backs.

Twenty-four of the 34-strong squad either play in France or the UK, including six players from the bottom two clubs in the Gallagher Prem – Newcastle (two) and Harlequins (four). Saracens, Bath, Bristol and Leicester each have a representative.

Highlanders lock Tomás Lavanini, capped 91 times by Los Pumas, misses out, while former first-choice scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou is another notable absentee.

Enforcers Guido Petti and Matías Alemanno are within touching distance of their cap centuries, with Harlequins’ Petti two away from the landmark and France-based Alemanno needing just one appearance to bring up three figures.

Injuries have contributed to the make-up of the squad, with Thomas Gallo, Juan Martin González, Juan Cruz Mallía and Pedro Rubiolo – all regulars under  Contepomi – still unavailable.

Head-to-Head

Last 5 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

2

Average Points scored

26

30

First try wins

60%

Home team wins

60%

With the Top 14 final between Toulouse and Montpellier taking place this Saturday, Santiago Chocobares, Efraín Elías, Domingo Miotti and Justo Piccardo will not be considered for the opening match against Scotland at Estadio Mario Kempes, Córdoba on July 4.

Los Pumas will then take on Wales in San Juan before hosting England in Santiago del Estero. To play three consecutive Tests on home soil is something of a novelty for Argentina and coach Contepomi is looking forward to pressing home their advantage.

“We are very happy to be back with the team and to start the year playing at home in front of our fans,” said Contepomi.

“We are returning to Córdoba, San Juan, and Santiago del Estero, three provinces that have welcomed us so warmly in recent years.

“A great challenge lies ahead with the start of the Nations Championship, a demanding new competition that will require a lot of preparation.

“The goal is to pick up where we left off last year and continue to strengthen ourselves as a team, striving for continuous improvement in every training session and match.”

Argentina squad

Forwards:
Mayco Vivas (Oyonnax, FR, 39 caps)
Boris Wenger (Harlequins, UK, 5 caps)
Francisco Coria Marchetti (Brive, FR, 8 caps)
Pedro Delgado (Harlequins, UK, 9 caps)
Tomás Rapetti (Toulouse, FR, 3 caps)
Julián Montoya (Pau, UK, 117 caps)
Leonel Oviedo (Western Force, uncapped)
Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR, 26 caps)
Franco Molina (Newcastle Red Bulls, UK, 19 caps)
Guido Petti (Harlequins, UK, 98 caps)
Matías Alemanno (Vannes, FR, 99 caps)
Luciano Asevedo (Tarucas, uncapped)
Santiago Grondona (Pau, FR, 25 caps)
Marcos Kremer (Clermont, FR, 81 caps)
Pablo Matera (Honda Heat, JP, 121 caps)
Juan Penoucos (Pampas, uncapped) *
Joaquin Moro (Leicester Tigers, UK, 3 caps)
Joaquin Oviedo (Perpignan, FR, 22 caps)

Backs:
Simón Benítez Cruz (Newcastle Red Bulls, UK, 10 caps)
Gonzalo García (Pau, FR, 16 caps)
Agustín Moyano (Western Force, AU, 8 caps)
Tomás Albornoz (Toulon, FR, 21 caps)
Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Racing 92, FR, 4 caps)
Nicolás Roger (Dogos, 3 caps)
Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos, 1 cap)
Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK, 39 caps)
Agustín Fraga (Pampas, uncapped) *
Matías Moroni (Bristol Bears, UK, 94 caps)
Mateo Carreras (Bayonne, FR, 33 caps)
Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR, 39 caps)
Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, UK, 16 caps)
Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT, 4 caps)
Santiago Carreras (Bath, UK, 64 caps)
Mateo Soler (Dogos, uncapped)

*invited players

Not considered due to injury:

Eduardo Bello
Emiliano Boffelli
Bautista Bernasconi
Benjamín Elizalde
Thomas Gallo
Juan Martín González
Benjamín Grondona
Juan Cruz Mallía
Pedro Rubiolo
Joel Sclavi