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Argentina are counting the costs of this morning’s match against New Zealand. The round three Rugby Championship match started well for Argentina but New Zealand ultimately showed too much class to win comfortably.
With the match poised at the interval the losses of Juan Martín Hernández and Guido Petti contributed to Argentina losing their grip. They were substituted in the 38th and 40th minutes respectively.
Confirmed out of facing Australia next Saturday is Hernández. The Inside center suffered a medial ligament sprain. Dr. Guillermo Botto has classified it as being a Grade 1 injury, thus minor. He ought to be fit to play the round five home match against New Zealand in Buenos Aires.
Petti’s fitness will be determined over the coming days. He left the field after being tackled high by Joe Moody. Dr. Botto believes that Petti has suffered a concussion. Tests will determine the severity of it and whether or not he can play against Australia.
Reinforcements may be required. Argentina has Gabriel Ascárate and Santiago González Iglesias as possible inside center options. Jerónimo de la Fuente may nonetheless fly to Perth to join the team. He missed out on facing New Zealand after failing a fitness test in Argentina.
Should Petti miss out the stiuation is more complex. 19-year-old Marcos Kremer made his debut for Argentina this morning. Matías Alemanno started with Petti replacing Tomás Lavanini who is out for the year. Also unavailable through injury is Jaguares second-rower Juan Cruz Guillemaín.
For the June Internationals Daniel Hourcade utilized flanker Javier Ortega Desio as a second-rower. The same may now be required against Australia. The uncapped Ignacio Larrague is the likely player to join the roster. The possibility of Manuel Carizza or Mariano Galarza doing so from Europe is minute.
