Pumas confirm Rugby Championship roster

Daniel Hourcade has named 33 players in his Pumas squad for the Rugby Championship, set to kick off on August 20. As expected the group is composed entirely of players from Los Jaguares, with only one exception in Brumbies scrumhalf Tomas Cubelli. There are no European-based professionals included following Argentina’s decision to select only Super Rugby players barring exceptional circumstances.

Agustín Creevy continues to lead the side that shows only minimal changes from the selection that took on France in June. Lucas Noguera Paz returns from injury in place of Felipe Arregui, though Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro looks set to continue at loosehead prop after being listed as a no1 in the official release. The only uncapped player is second row Marcos Kremer, who will celebrate his 19th birthday in 10 days time.

Cubelli is a hot favorite to claim the starting halfback slot ahead of perennial rival Martín Landajo, and Felipe Ezcurra is preferred to Gonzalo Bertranou as third choice. Veteran midfielder Gabriel Ascárate is recalled after missing the Super Rugby season with injury as an addition to the backs.

A traveling squad of 26 will be named prior to the team’s departure for South Africa for their opening fixture. For Oceania trip they will take two more for a total of 28. A final decision on the traveling numbers for the historic match at Twickenham in October will be made in due course.

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

BACKS
Tomás Cubelli, Felipe Ezcurra, Martín Landajo, Santiago González Iglesias, Nicolás Sánchez, Gabriel Ascárate, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Juan Martín Hernández, Matías Moroni, Matías Orlando, Santiago Cordero, Lucas González Amorosino, Manuel Montero, Ramiro Moyano, Joaquín Tuculet

FIXTURES (all times Argentina)
Sat, Aug 20 – 07:05 – vs South Africa – Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Sat, Aug 27 – 16:40 – vs South Africa – Estadio Padre Ernesto Martearena, Salta
Sat, Sep 10 – 04:35 – vs New Zealand – FMG Stadium, Hamilton
Sat, Sep 17 – 07:05 – vs Australia – nib Stadium, Perth
Sat, Oct 1 – 19:10 – vs New Zealand – Vélez Sarsfield, Buenos Aires
Sat, Oct 8 – 15:30 – vs Australia – Twickenham, London