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Argentina’s preparation for the final Rugby Championship fixture has started badly. Before the team begins officially training they must wait on the availability of three starters from Saturday’s match against New Zealand. Tomás Cubelli will not play while Guido Petti and Nicolás Sánchez are both in doubt to face Australia.
Tomás Cubelli was forced off in the 32nd minute. Having made a dart, the former Brumbies scrum-half was hit hard by Sonny Bill Williams. He was immediately forced off as a precaution and assessed for neck damage.
Analysis from the team Medic has confirmed the worst – Cubelli suffered a fractured 5th vertebrae. The injury sees him out for the remainder of the year. Officially it is a 2-3 month stand down.
The early substitution saw Martín Landajo joining the match. Landajo is now expected to return to be the starting scrum-half against Australia. Gonzalo Bertranou will almost certainly be Landajo’s deputy in Mendoza. It would be a debut Rugby Championship appearance for Bertranou who is from Mendoza.
Second-rower, Guido Petti left the field with time up. he did so prior to the final scrum of the match. His departure saw Argentina packing down without one forward. In the prior phase, Petti went down with a blow to his shoulder. Post match it was revealed that it was a hard knock and the injury may be minor.
Sánchez departed in the second half, replaced by Juan Martín Hernández. The Tucumán fly half left with an injury to his right ankle. He was taken off with a suspected sprained ankle. Post match the medic revealed it to have been minor. His involvement against Australia is, nonetheless, in doubt.
