Argentina aim to win Americas Pacific Challenge

The Argentina XV will be confident of a repeat as champions at the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo after confirming a powerful 28-man roster. Included are eight players with senior test caps and many of the players who lifted the Sudamérica Rugby Cup.

Leading the charge will be workhorse flanker Lautaro Bavaro, who missed out on last year’s tournament. In fact only five forwards return including hookers Gaspar Baldunciel and Axel Zapata, tighthead prop Santiago Medrano, and second rows Juan Cruz Guillemaín and Ignacio Larrague. A notable addition in the back row is loose forward Tomás de la Vega, the most experienced man in the team with 12 test caps, who returns after being absent since the end of the Americas Rugby Championship.

Jaguares scrumhalf Gonzalo Bertranou is set to combine with Juan Cruz González in a potent halfback pairing while there is experience in the midfield in Juan Cappiello and Santiago Álvarez. The latter is joined by two other Olympians in wingers Germán Schulz and Rodrigo Etchart.

Argentina will face Canada, Samoa, and Uruguay beginning on October 7. All matches will be played at the Estadio Charrúa in Montevideo, with streaming details from World Rugby to be confirmed shortly. A detailed roster can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Felipe Arregui (Duendes), Franco Brarda (Tala), Benjamín Espinal (Belgrano), Santiago Medrano (Regatas Bella Vista), Roberto Tejerizo (Tucumán Lawn Tennis), Gaspar Baldunciel (Alumni), Axel Zapata (SITAS), Diego Galetto (Urú Curé), Juan Cruz Guillemaín (Jockey San Juan), Ignacio Larrague (CASI), Franco Molina (Jockey Córdoba), Lautaro Bavaro (capt., Hindú), Rodrigo Bruni (San Luis), Tomás de la Vega (CUBA), Santiago Portillo (Alumni), Mariano Romanini (Alumni)

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos), Sebastián Cancelliere (Hindú), Nicolás Cantarutti (Tala), Juan Cruz González (CUBA), Santiago Álvarez (CASI), Juan Cappiello (Pucará), Juan Cruz Mallía (Jockey Córdoba), Santiago Mare (Regatas Bella Vista), Franco Cuaranta (Tala), Rodrigo Etchart (SIC), Germán Schulz (Tala), Bautista Delguy (Pucará)

FIXTURES
Oct 7 – 14:00 local / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT – vs Canada ‘A’
Oct 11 – 14:00 local / 13:00 ET / 10:00 PT – vs Samoa ‘A’
Oct 15 – 16:30 local / 15:30 ET / 12:30 PT – vs Uruguay ‘A’