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Manuel Montero has confirmed on twitter, that his Rugby World Cup dream is over. The first choice Pumas left winger wrote to his folllowers on twitter this evening that ”again (I have) reptured (my) interior cruciate and lateral meniscus”.
Montero’s injury occurred at practice earlier today in Rosario when he was training for a place in Argentina’s team to take-on the French Barbarians on Friday in La Plata. The severity of the injury means he will not be fit in time for involvement in Argentina’s World Cup campaign.
The injury is a repeat of that suffered against England in June 2013 which ended his year. Upon recovering Montero was instrumental in the plans of Daniel Hourcade, starting eleven of twelve tests in which he featured in the year 2014. He proved to be a world-class winger scoring noteworthy tries against elite opposition including Australia, Ireland and South Africa.
In doing so Montero was occupying the position previously held down by long-time servant Horacio Agulla. Hourcade’s faith in Montero also saw him selected ahead of Lucas González Amorosino, the hero against Scotland in Rugby World Cup 2011.
While not having a settled starting lineup in 2014 it was Montero and Juan Imhoff being used as the predominant starting combination. González Amorosino and Agulla also both received game time as did Santiago Cordero. Missing for the duration was Gonzalo Camacho who is expected to return to face Australia next month.
Montero is one of three specialist wingers contracted to the UAR at present. The others are Matías Orlando and Santiago Cordero. The duo join the above mentioned players as contenders for Hourcade’s World Cup squad.
