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Uncapped players have been named in Argentina’s roster for England and Georgia. Los Pumas are to play at home for three June Internationals, the first two of which are against England in San Juan and Santa Fé. The third will be against the Lelos in Jujuy.
New Blood
Head Coach Daniel Hourcade has named uncapped backs Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli and Bautista Ezcurra in the squad. Despite there being 32 players there are only two scrum halves. This makes Bertranou certain to receive game time either starting or from the bench covering Martín Landajo.
Boffelli had been expected to be a Puma in 2016. Injury in Super Rugby, however, meant he missed the entirety of last year’s international competition. He is now included as a utility option though his position is likely to be wing.
Wing proved to be a nightmare for Hourcade in late 2016. Injuries and the non-selection status of foreign-based players meant he was denied all wingers aside from Santiago Cordero. This is not a problem any longer. In addition to Boffelli Hourcade has named Cordero, Manuel Montero and Ramiro Moyano.
The uncapped Bautista Ezcurra is also a possibility. This is the position in which he has been used by Raúl Pérez in Super Rugby. Ezcurra, though, is a natural inside back. He has featured at fly half or inside center for the likes of the Argentina XV and Los Pumas 7’s.
In the forwards there is a call-up for Felipe Arregui. The uncapped Tight Head prop trained with Los Pumas last November in the U.K. He did so while being on contract to Edinburgh. He subsequently returned to Argentina to play Super Rugby.
Entirely Home Based
The 32-man roster is different to all other squads selected by Hourcade. Indeed this roster is entirely home based. The one foreign-based player expected to feature is Tomás Cubelli. Injury, though, has seen his spot go to Bertranou.
Cubelli is yet to play for the Brumbies this year. Bertanou and Felipe Ezcurra have both started at scrum half for Los Jaguares as has Landajo. With progression Cubelli should be free for consideration for the Rugby Championship.
Hourcade has thereby shown faith in Los Jaguares’ players. This despite the team playing well below expectation. Also included are players to have only recently returned from injury. Javier Ortega Desio and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro have one Super Rugby appearance between them this season.
FORWARDS
Matías Alemanno, Felipe Arregui, Rodrigo Báez, Agustín Creevy (Capt.), Santiago García Botta, Ramiro Herrera, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Tomás Lezana, Benjamín Macome, Pablo Matera, Julián Montoya, Lucas Noguera Paz, Javier Ortega Desio, Guido Petti, Enrique Pieretto, Leonardo Senatore, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro
BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Cordero, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Bautista Ezcurra, Santiago González Iglesias, Juan Martín Hernández, Martín Landajo, Manuel Montero, Matías Moroni, Ramiro Moyano, Matías Orlando, Nicolás Sánchez, Joaquín Tuculet
