Marcos Kremer to Start Against New Zealand?

Is Marcos Kremer set to start against New Zealand? The possibility is realistic based on Pumas training sessions today in Buenos Aires.

Head Coach Daniel Hourcade had Kremer training together with Guido Petti as the starting second-row combination. The pair are the more mobile of the four roster members. The other specialist second-rowers are Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini.

Kremer and Petti were joined in the tight-five by familiar faces. Set to start again as the front-row are Lucas Noguera Paz, Agustín Creevy and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro. This is identical to the selection for the recent away tests against New Zealand and Australia.

Petti started in both Oceania matches. His second-row partner was Alemanno with Kremer coming on as a second half replacement on both occasions. His rise to training in the starting lineup comes with Argentina under pressure to turn around a poor run of results. Moreover Lavanini’s red card against South Africa continues to see other options being explored.

Based on training sessions so far this week Lavanini will be the replacement second-row. He is to be used  as an impact player from the bench with Alemanno making-way for the Argentine enforcer.

Kremer and Petti both offer mobility. Their selection is being balanced by a back-row offering grunt. Benjamín Macome trained today at No 8 with Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Tomás Lezana being the flankers. All three have started matches at No 8 this season.

Of the trio Macome offers old-fashioned set-piece options. Indeed he made a clean break from a scrum against New Zealand last month. Lezana was trailed out of position and impressed in Canberra. Leguizamón does not possess the pace he once did but his commitment to the cause is unparalleled. With Pablo Matera in doubt and Javier Ortega Desio having struggled in his two starts it is explanatory.

In the back-line Hourcade is set to again move around the pieces. At scum half Tomás Cubelli is to return. He started in New Plymouth, putting in the best performance of the year by a Pumas no 9. Martín Landajo returned in Canberra but Cubelli is now set to be used again.

Joining Cubelli in the halves today was Nicolás Sánchez. The Tucumán play-maker was standing inside Juan Martín Hernández. El Mago has not played inside center for his country all year. Instead Rosario’s natural mid-fielder, Jerónimo de la Fuente has held down the position.

The return of Hernández was also with a change outside him. Having started in Canberra, Matías Orlando made way for Matías Moroni. Both center have had opportunities this year with the latter’s performance in New Plymouth having been of note. He also scored an impressive try on the wing against the Wallabies.

At the back Joaquín Tuculet is set to return from parental duty. The new father missed out on facing Australia. This saw a first start at fullback for Emiliano Boffelli. Both players trained in the back-three today with Tuculet at fullback and Boffelli on the left wing. Santiago Cordero returned to the right wing spot. Ramiro Moyano is out for the remainder of the Rugby Championship.