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Following a season in France Lucas Martínez has returned home to Lomas Athletic Club in Buenos Aires. The uncapped 26 year old joined Castres as a medical joker for the early part of the 2015-2016 season. His performances saw him earning a contract for the duration of the season.
Tilting the scales at 128kg Martínez is in the mould of Martín Scelzo. Unlike the former 59-time capped Puma, Martínez did not come through the junior system. His representation in Argentina colors began in 2014 for the Argentina XV.
Most recently Martínez played in the Nations Cup. He did so by traveling from Castres to Romania as one of two French-based players. Instead of a return to there Tarn he is now back home and is a wider option for the Rugby Championship.
Lacking faith in his loosehead prop options Daniel Hourcade started tighthead Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro on the left side against France. The former Newport Gwent Dragons prop is now to play out of position again this weekend in Super Rugby.
Specialist loosehead prop Santiago García Botta will be on the bench this weekend for Los Jaguares. Both he and Lucas Noguera Paz are the top two Argentine-based loosehead prop options for the Rugby Championship.
Aged 24 and 22 respectively García Botta and Noguera Paz are notably less experienced that Marcos Ayerza and Juan Figallo. Should these two English-based players not be selected then the youth of 22-year-old Felipe Arregui and 21-year-old Enrique Pieretto are Rugby Championship options.
