Montero returns for November tour

Manuel Montero will return to the Pumas team for their four-match November tour that starts in Tokyo on November 5. The powerhouse winger has been out of action since damaging a thigh muscle against the Springboks in Salta on August 27. Also recalled is flanker Tomás Lezana, one of five players selected from the Argentina XV squad that emerged victorious in the Americas Pacific Challenge. The others are prop Facundo Gigena, hooker Facundo Bosch, scrumhalf Felipe Ezcurra, and midfielder Gabriel Ascárate.

The uncapped Gigena replaces injured Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro who has been ruled out of the tour with injury. Bosch is the only other uncapped player in the group that is otherwise comprised of those who participated in the Rugby Championship.

Head coach Daniel Hourcade has opted not to replace heavyweight lock Tomás Lavanini, with only three specialist second rows selected he will instead look to Javier Ortega Desio to provide emergency cover with Argentina XV options Juan Cruz Guillemaín and Ignacio Larrague overlooked. Only captain Agustín Creevy and Ramiro Herrera are over the age of 25 among the 11 tight five forwards selected, with Hourcade sticking to his hard policy of leaving out European-based Pumas.

Five players will not travel with the team to Japan, instead joining the group in Cardiff ahead of the game against Wales. Pablo Matera and Juan Martín Hernández will be rested while Bosch, Ezcurra, and Ascárate are not required.

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

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

*to join the team in the UK

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