Pumas name squad for Barbarians match

Daniel Hourcade has named a group of 25 players to prepare for their match against the Barbarians at Twickenham on November 21. Only four players come from outside of the squad that took park in the World Cup – Tomás Lezana, Felipe Ezcurra, Emiliano Boffelli, and Ramiro Moyano.

Of note is that all but three of the group is contracted to the UAR for the 2015 Super Rugby season, giving Southern Hemisphere fans an early glimpse at what the Jaguars side might look like. Exceptions include scrumhalf Ezcurra, back row Leonardo Senatore, and tighthead prop Juan Pablo Orlandi. The latter was called into the World Cup group in place of Matías Diaz, ruled out with heart problems. Should Diaz by unable to take part in Super Rugby, Orlandi looks the most likely replacement.

Notable absentees are giant lock Tomás Lavanini, currently suspended, and scrumhalf Tomás Cubelli, whose squad place has been taken by Ezcurra. Cubelli’s absence could well be linked to his reported signing with the Brumbies for the Super Rugby season, with the Australian-based franchise said to have inked a two-year deal with the Pumas star as a replacement for departed playmaker Nic White.

The match, contesting the Killik Cup, will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the Barbarians and 50th of Argentina’s first overseas tour. The two sides have met on only one previous occasion, a 34-22 win for the Barbarians in Cardiff during the 100th anniversary celebrations in 1990.

FORWARDS
Santiago García Botta, Lucas Noguera Paz, Agustín Creevy (capt.), Julián Montoya, Ramiro Herrera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matías Alemanno, Guido Petti, Javier Ortega Desio, Pablo Matera, Tomás Lezana, Facundo Isa, Leonardo Senatore.

BACKS
Felipe Ezcurra, Martín Landajo, Nicolás Sánchez, Juan Martín Hernández, Santiago González Iglesias, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Matías Moroni, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Cordero, Ramiro Moyano, Joaquín Tuculet.