Ex-Sevens speedster called up as Argentina add four players to squad

Argentina are awaiting the outcome of the Head Injury Assessment (HIA) protocol to see if captain Julián Montoya will be fit to lead them into battle against Italy in Genoa this Saturday.

Montoya, who has captained Los Pumas more than any other player, suffered a head injury in Friday night’s 42-12 defeat by Ireland in Dublin.

Pablo Matera will most likely take on the armband if Montoya is unavailable, having led the team in his absence in three Tests in August and September.

Hookers Bautista Bernasconi and Facundo Bosch have been called up as cover. Bernasconi has three caps and Bosch 11, but neither has a single Test start between them.

With utility back Juan Cruz Mallia facing a potentially lengthy spell on the sidelines due to the knee injury he picked up at the Aviva Stadium, Los Pumas have brought in uncapped Zebre player Tobias Wade, a former star of the sevens circuit.

Wade joined Zebre after impressing for Los Pampas in their 2026 Super Rugby Americas title-winning season.

As a sevens player before that, Wade won 10 tournament titles in a golden period for Los Pumas Sevens between 2022-25.

The quartet of new additions is completed by another potential debutant, Matias Medrano, who is a replacement for Rodrigo Martinez at prop.

Meanwhile, back-row forward Facundo Isa returns to Los Pumas’ training camp after being released to play for Pau in the Top 14 this weekend. The 33-year-old won the last of his 53 caps against England in July 2025.

Argentina have won their last nine matches against Italy dating back to 2008, and have achieved a record winning margin in each of the last three clashes, the most recent being 50-18 in Udine in 2024.

A repeat of that scoreline would be most welcome after failing to win any of their last five games, with the Ireland setback the worst of the lot.