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Felipe Ezcurra is to captain Argentina XV vs Spain in the opening round fixture of the World Rugby Nations Cup in Romania on Thursday. The 23 year old Hindú Club scrum half has been a wider roster member of Los Jaguares in Super Rugby providing support to Martín Landajo and Gonzalo Bertranou.
Ezcurra is to be joined by clubmate Joaquín Díaz Bonilla in the halves and have the experience of Gabriel Ascárate to call-upon at inside center.
Ascárate featured in last Saturday’s impressive win over Chile in Santiago, playing outside Díaz Bonillo. Against Spain his mid-field partner will change from being Segundo Tuculet to Juan Cappiello. Tuculet drops to the bench where he will be joined by another with Super Rugby game time, Joaquín Paz.
The starting wingers from Santiago remain with Franco Cuaranta and Sebastián Cancelliere getting the nod. Missing is Gonzalo Gutiérrez Taboada who has been replaced by the goal kicking Pedro Mercerat at fullback.
It is all change in the front-row as Pumas call-ups for Facundo Gigena, Facundo Bosch and Enrique Pieretto see Franco Brarda, Santiago Iglesias Valdez and Cristian Bartolini starting. French based props Lucas Martínez and Carlos Muzzio will feature as replacements.
The second-row duo of Pedro Ortega and Ignacio Larrague have been retained from Saturday’s non-capped international. Also retained are back-rowers Lautaro Bavaro and Santiago Portillo with the only change seeing Lucas Maguire coming in for José Deheza.
Joining the Argentina XV in place of Felipe Arregui is Eduardo Bello. Arregui has been capped-up by Daniel Hourcade for Los Pumas in place of the injured Facundo Gigena.
