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WOMENS

Los Pumas squad for Lions has a Super Rugby flavour

By Frankie Deges

27 days ago

Julián Montoya of Argentina looks on prior to the 2024 Autumn Nations Series match between France and Argentina at Stade de France on November 22, 2024 in Paris, France. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)

Pumas’ coach Felipe Contepomi named ten uncapped players in his first squad of the season to assemble in Dublin over the weekend ahead of their game against the British & Irish Lions, on Friday 20th.

With a number of absentees due to club commitments in France, he has decided to select players involved in the Premiership Final on Saturday and the Super Rugby Americas on Friday night.

The first group of players will travel with the coaching staff from Buenos Aires on Friday, with the squad likely to have its 32 selected players by Sunday afternoon, ready to start preparing on Monday.

Contepomi, who captained Argentina in 2005 when they drew 25-25 in Cardiff, has managed to put together a solid squad, with some very experienced players such as captain Julián Montoya, who hopes that his final game for the Leicester Tigers sees him lifting the Premiership trophy, and Pablo Matera, who has just completed his second season playing in Japan, in the forwards. Matías Moroni, who was a medical joker in France’s ProD2.

Santiago Carreras, who had a wonderful farewell season for Gloucester, will certainly play a big role, either as fullback or vying for the number 10 jersey with Tomás Albornoz, who changed the face of the team’s attack in the second half of the last season.

Juan Martín González and Lucio Cinti will play against their club teammate Maro Itoje, expected to lead the British & Irish Lions.

There are a number of unavailable high calibre players, all with French clubs still involved in the finals. Backs Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía, and lock Efrain Elias (Toulouse), winger Mateo Carreras, Rodrigo Bruni and Lucas Paulos (Bayonne), Bautista Delguy (Clermont), lock Guido Petti (Bordeaux-Begles) and loosie Facundo Isa (Toulon) have not been invited to a game that falls outside of the Regulation 9 window as their clubs are still competing.

Not selected is livewire Thomas Gallo, a regular Puma tighthead over the past three seasons. It is said that he has been rested ahead of the July window against England (twice) and Uruguay.

The balance of the squad comes from Super Rugby Americas, the regional competition in South America, with eleven players all ready to take their opportunities, including Simón Benítez Cruz and Agustín Moyano who will fight to be reserve to Gonzalo García, the incumbent halfback after shining in the European tour. Nine of the SRA players are under 24 years old.

The Pumas’ coaching staff have been speaking in recent years that players win their places in the 23-man squad during the buildup week, as they see how they compete for a position.

Montoya might be spared of this competition. The test centurion will arrive at the end of a season in which he shone for the Tigers, leading them to the final. That he is willing to cross the Irish Sea to join his national team after what could be a dream farewell, speaks volumes of his commitment. Next season he will play in Pau, in France.

Also flying in after a final will be props Boris Wenger and Pedro Delgado, hooker Leonel Oviedo, scrumhalf Moyano and back Faustino Sánchez Valarolo, who on Friday tackle Peñarol Rugby at home, and will have a much longer trip starting in Montevideo.

Two sets of brothers could play for the first time for Argentina. Coaches Contepomi and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, with twin Manuel and older brother Ignacio respectively, were the last to play with a brother in a Puma international.

Oviedo will join older brother Joaquín for the first time in Los Pumas, whilst the Grondona’s, flankers Benjamín and Santiago if they take the field together will also become another international duo.

“For us, it’s a great challenge to pick up where we left off in 2024 and continue our quest for continuous improvement,” said Contepomi in a press release. “Every game is an opportunity to continue growing as a team, and we take it with great responsibility.”

Pumas squad:

Forwards: Luciano Asevedo (Tarucas)*, Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton Rugby)*, Francisco Coria Marchetti (Brive), Pedro Delgado (Dogos XV), Juan Martín González (Saracens), Benjamín Grondona (Bristol Bears)*, Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears), Pablo Matera (Honda Heat), Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs), Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, captain), Joaquín Moro (Pampas), Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan), Leonel Oviedo (Dogos XV)*, Pedro Rubiolo (Bristol Bears), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle), Mayco Vivas (Gloucester), Boris Wenger (Dogos XV)*

Backs: Tomás Albornoz (Benetton Rugby), Simón Benítez Cruz (Tarucas)*, Santiago Carreras (Gloucester), Lucio Cinti (Saracens), Santiago Cordero (Connaught), Benjamín Elizalde (Bristol Bears)*, Gonzalo García (Zebre), Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins), Ignacio Mendy (Benetton Rugby), Matías Moroni (Brive), Santiago Pernas (Pampas)*, Justo Piccardo (Pampas), Nicolás Roger (Tarucas)*, Faustino Sánchez Valarolo (Dogos XV)*

* uncapped

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Comments

1 Comment

Jacque 27 days ago

Don’t be surprised if they beat the Lions.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

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Comments on RugbyPass

NH 20 minutes ago

Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Nice one Brett. I think you can potentially hit 2 brids with one stone as it were with a couple of your conundrums. Having skelton off the bench with hooper/uru would reduce your balance issue, help finish the back end of games strong, and let Wilson captain. And with Noah out (bloke can’t catch a break), I think the more experience and game management they can squeeze onto the park the better with the stocks of guys like kellaway, white and even a hunter rising with that injury. I, for one, liked the varied kicking the WBs employed vs fiji and it be all the more important for each of the likes of wright, the 9, ikitau to help donno/lynagh in this aspect with kicking/game mgmt which is a clear weakness in aus rugby at the moment relative to the lions.

3 Go to comments

Neilashford 23 minutes ago

All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

Nick, great article. Tupou hasn't looked fit all year. On offense I noticed him tracking the ball but always being a phase or 10m behind so ending up being last at a ruck (and not needed) or running a lazy inside line that clearly wasn't on.

With a shot Tupou, no Skelton and Valetini, no Noah, and more injuries to come (just statistically) it is hard to see the Wallabies winning a game realistically. I'd love to be wrong.

These problems shine a light on RA’s lack of strategy over the years. How many players have they lost to Europe (before and after they become Wallabies)? Why do all the young 10s stall out at the same phase of development? Why all the stop-start with the veteran 10s? Why are there no project players (not just international recruits but also younger Aussies with potential) being clearly groomed for international roles? Why are there no promising back-rowers being moved to hooker around the u20 level?

I have been reading and enjoying your columns for a decade but it is not clear if anyone at RA has spent 20 minutes reviewing the basics.

Just disappointing and frustrating all around

18 Go to comments

BA 37 minutes ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Play the different comps with no Champions cup breaking it up and at end of URC SA clubs joins with Super for its version of a Champions cup then every 4 the World Cup challenge ?or does the Top 14 need to be the showpiece finish for French rugby? I know that’s very simplistic and fraught with logistical problems but could work?

166 Go to comments

Brett McKay 46 minutes ago

Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Fair to say you’ve offered a very different perspective Am, thanks for taking the time to outline as you have..

3 Go to comments

BA 48 minutes ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Perhaps moving forward run meters tackles rucks and so on relative to weight height age etc becomes the new metric for guiding player welfare ?

166 Go to comments

BA 56 minutes ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

I was just praising Cam for all the sniping he has done all season and last and that Cortez could follow suit bit more especially considering he is really quick

166 Go to comments

Cantab 58 minutes ago

All Blacks front five power points to brighter times ahead

Absolutely. Need to actually walk the walk before the talk the talk. While there is always optimism existing problems need to be addressed before improvement can be achieved.

7 Go to comments

BA 59 minutes ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

5 million watched Top 14 final 8 million ABs test LY how many will watch Boks France at end of year ?10 million?not saying you can compare to games downunder atm with times no French stars etc but def still shows a appetite for international rugby

166 Go to comments

GP 1 hour ago

All Blacks front five power points to brighter times ahead

I agree with you. I think the “rose tinted glasses” are being worn in this article. Fletcher Newell is a machine in the scrums as the article says. Carrying on from what he did for the Crusaders against the Blues and Chiefs. But we need Tamaiti Williams back down the track and Scott Barrett is going to be missed while he is out. Scott is under appreciated by some.

7 Go to comments

BA 1 hour ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

What if the Lions tour ? What do they do then?And that seems likely at some point but maybe quite far away

166 Go to comments

NH 1 hour ago

All eyes on the Brumbies' power as Racing-bound Taniela Tupou's Lion dream fades

tbh I’d still have nella off the bench and just really try and simplify his game. Anchor the scrum (don’t need to win a penatly), make your tackles, pick and gos in 22 zone, and clean otherwise. But, he is somewhat the antithesis of the workrate player Schmidt likes and nongorr has been good in this regard this season (scrum wobbles aside). Curious to see what Schmidt does at 10, I think noah is a bigger loss than alot of people might give credit to. I thought the wallabies shape and decision making was largely quite good in the 1st half against fiji and I liked the diverse kicking. I personally have no confidence in donno or lynagh, they are just too green, but JOC seems on the outer. Very little game management present across the team. Need as much as we can get now from the 9, 12, 15 and even wings to help out whoever the 10 is. Guys like kellaway, white, wright, ikitau, hunter all the more important to take some load.

18 Go to comments

AM 1 hour ago

Six selection questions for Joe Schmidt as Lions loom large

Find this an odd one. AAA is a terrible scrummager and was shown up badly in the RwC and European games. He should not start. The front row should be Bell, Latu and Thor or Jordan U at hooker. Latu played well for La Rochelle and JU played well for MP. The French comp is the best in the world. Ainsley is a better scrummager than AAA and played well for Lyon. He should be on the bench. At loose Scott Sio played well for Exeter and is better than slipper. The young no 1 at the Tahs is also solid. Nongoor and Robertson are worse than AAA in the scrum and not international level.

Harry Wilson shouldn’t be in the squad. He cannot break tackles and has poor ball skills. Samu was great for UBB who won the European club championship. Back three should be Booby V, Tizano and Leota with Gleeson and Samu off the bench. McRight has not played well against bigger teams and gets blown off the ball. Utilise the wingers more for support play.

Starting locks should be frost and Skelton. Off the bench Amatosero and Williams or Philip. There is your balance point.

The biggest issue we have the back line is that wright has a poor kicking game and not as big a boot as the back 3 of the lions. He also makes a lot of mistakes. Wallabies should have developed hodge at 15 as that big boot of his takes a lot of pressure off. That is what is going to kill them.

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IkeaBoy 2 hours ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

If you applied your logic to country and not club, then you're on to something!

It’s not a big happy family. It's not south American soccer when you get scouted at 8 and join a club with lads you've grown up with. It was a pay cheque. And I suspected it wouldn't last long.

I did my bit, they did theirs. At times it was great fun. I got a Friday night at the Cardiff arms park which was my only bucket list. Not more than 1500 in attendance and we got pumped by 22 PTS but special memories.

The pitch was utter shyte though.

I mean this sincerely but the fans in the stands are often the more passionate. Professional players, to a degree, are conditioned to deal with losses. On to the next game. Pragmatism.

The players were starting to get too big so I don't miss the on field stuff and I've literally never held a ball since. I wouldn’t let either of my young cubs near a rugby ball at the moment as the game stands but I've never enjoyed watching the game more than now.

Two teams go to war but nobody dies. It's a lovely antidote to the confusing and overwhelming real world we live in. Some times your best is enough, some times it's not.

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Shihan 2 hours ago

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Will Argentina recover the fifth place in the World ranking if they defeat England this coming Saturday on their second test match in the Province of San Juan?

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YeowNotEven 3 hours ago

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Smash em boys!

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Andrew Nichols 3 hours ago

Taniela Tupou joins Lion as two of six internationals signed by Racing 92

Will quickly get a new name LeTubbalard.

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JT 3 hours ago

Former All Blacks discuss possible changes ahead of second France Test

One big yawn…. Non performers keeps getting rewarded. Those who actually do perform and are exciting prospects get sidelined. Compare this attitude to the French, the springboks, England and even Australia and you get your answer as to why the ABs have stagnated.

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takata 3 hours ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

Sure a break is better than no break at all - but to use the same analogy as before, it’s like refilling a car with gas but not giving it a good service.

But, here, I’m just answering what it’s so hard for you to see, as you wrote above: “Overall, it is very hard to see what France is gaining in the player welfare equation. It is simply replacing one set of overworked players with another.”

And for me, the gain in the player welfare equation is certainly obvious and I wonder how you could have missed it. Or maybe you’re more a Polemist than a real Analyst?

The third Test is 19 July, round one of Top 14 2025-26 first weekend of September. Probably a month of pre-season in August with three warm-up games. Where is the off-season for players to recover properly?

In the NFL they have 7 months.

Yeah right!

The NFL is also distributing contracts worth $210.000.000+ for 4 years… In Top 14, Dupont was paid a yearly €480.000 (brut) by Toulouse while F. Russell was offered £1.000.000 with Bath. Consequently, I really fail to see how anything NFL is relevant with rugby, but you already know that.

Beside, La Section Paloise already started its pre-season (today) and the number of warm-up games would range from 0 - 2 (mostly 1). For the bulk, after five weeks, the restart is next week as their last game was on 7 June. The break is shorter than 6 weeks for their staff and those players who were not involved in their last game.

Last season ranking. Club -> date restart (break weeks)

08. Pau (SP) -> 9 July (~ 4w)

00. Montauban (USM Sapiac) -> 14 July (> Pro D2)

07. La Rochelle (SR) -> 14 July (~ 5w)

12. Paris (SF) -> 15 July (~ 5w)

11. Lyon (LOU) -> 15 July (~ 5w)

10. Racing 92 -> 15 July (~ 5w)

13. Perpignan (USAP) -> 16 July (~ 5w)

09. Montpellier (MHR) -> 16 July (~ 5w)

06. Clermont (ASM) -> 21 July (~ 5w)

05. Castres (CO) -> 21 July (~ 5w)

04. Bayonne (AB) -> 28 July (~ 5w)

03. Toulon (RCT) -> 28 July (~ 5w)

02. Bordeaux (UBB) -> 6 August (~ 5w)

01. Toulouse (ST) -> 4-11 August (~ 5-6w)

If Attissogbe (from Pau) is also playing the 19 July test (very doubtful), he will be back from holliday on 1 September (6 weeks later). No matter what, he is going to miss several rounds of Top 14.

(…) three-Test series in NZ is not ‘friendly’. It is a serious opportunity to prove you can beat one of the best nations in history in their own backyard.

You can also repeat it a million time but it won’t change the fact that those summer tests are the lowest priority on the FFR agenda. It’s a shame, it’s not going to change - even if they rename the window something else, but it’s for good reasons in my humble opinion.

166 Go to comments

Ed the Duck 3 hours ago

Can Les Bleus avoid a Black-wash in New Zealand?

And yet no club affiliation. Tough to think of a more compelling reason to support a club than growing up beside them, being nurtured and coached by them and then being granted the honour of going on to represent them on the pitch, or don’t you think? And yet no, that’s not the case here. I wonder what went wrong…

166 Go to comments

Andrew Nichols 4 hours ago

Scott Robertson weighs in on Will Jordan's possible position switch

Sure but it wont happen. DMac is a vital.part of that team. I think Love is a fabulous footy player who will take Barretts place sooner rather than later and take over DMacs bench spot (covering 10/15 while DMac becomes the starting 10 again. That is what WILL happen. They wont drop DMac.

67 Go to comments

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