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Argentina’s preparations for the second of three June Internationals has taken a hit with Matías Alemanno having been ruled out with a sprained left ankle.
The loss of the Córdoba forward is untimely as Los Pumas Head Coach Daniel Hourcade is also without both Juan Cruz Guillemaín and Tomás Lavanini to injury and suspension respectively. This leaves Hourcade with only Guido Petti for Los Jaguares as an available second-rower.
With European-based second-rowers Manuel Carizza and Mariano Galarza not considered, as part of the UAR’s policy, Hourcade has called-up the uncapped Ignacio Larrague and is set to again use two back-rowers on the bench.
Aged 20 Larrague is the latest graduate from the PladAR system. The CASI club forward played for Argentina in the 2014 and 2015 Junior World Championships. In 2014 he partnered Guido Petti against both England and Fiji and is now set to train as the starting combination for next Sunday’s next against France.
Standing 2.01m in height and weighing 120kg, Larrague is a large second-rower and follows the tradition of Patricio Albacete and Tomás Lavanini.
His call-up sees him flying home to Argentina from Romania where he has been with the Argentina XV. Larrague played against Spain on Thursday, starting in the 44-8 victory in Bucharest.
Larrague will join Los Pumas who are returning from Santa Fé this afternoon. Also joining the squad will be tighthead prop Ramiro Herrera who is now free to play rugby again after having served his two-week suspension for foul play in Super Rugby.
