Pumas bring new names on November tour

Daniel Hourcade has opted for three uncapped players in his 32-man Argentina roster for the European tour. Hindu pair Sebastián Cancelliere and Bautista Ezcurra will travel along with San Luis loose forward Rodrigo Bruni. A scrumhalf or wing, Cancelliere and Bruni are rewarded for outstanding form with the Argentina XV while versatile back Ezcurra has been on the fringes of the squad for much of the year having played for the Jaguares in Super Rugby.

Earning a recall to the squad is prop Felipe Arregui, who earned his one and only Pumas cup thus far as a replacement against South Africa in August 2016. Arregui is a direct replacement for the departed Ramiro Herrera, now exiled in Paris with Stade Français. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro is expected to return to the starting tighthead position having been used heavily as a loosehead to accommodate Herrera.

The presence of both Cancelliere and Gonzalo Bertranou means there is no room for Felipe Ezcurra in the squad despite showing good form for Hindú. Another notable absentee is powerful winger Manuel Montero, who has suffered to find his best form and has been overtaken by impressive newcomer Emiliano Boffelli and Ramiro Moyano in the pecking order.

Two players are set to achieve a significant career milestone while on the tour. Both Leonardo Senatore and Joaquin Tuculet are just two caps short of 50 in their test careers, a mark both can expect to achieve in the weeks ahead.

A detailed squad list can be seen here.

FORWARDS
Santiago García Botta (Belgrano), Lucas Noguera Paz (Lince), Agustín Creevy (capt., San Luis), Julián Montoya (Newman), Felipe Arregui (Duendes), Enrique Pieretto (Córdoba Athletic), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (La Plata), Matías Alemanno (La Tablada), Marcos Kremer (Atlético del Rosario), Tomás Lavanini (Hindú), Guido Petti (SIC), Juan Manuel Leguizamón (Santiago Lawn Tennis), Tomás Lezana (Santiago Lawn Tennis), Pablo Matera (Alumni), Javier Ortega Desio (Estudientes de Paraná), Rodrigo Bruni (San Luis), Benjamín Macome (Tucumán RC), Leonardo Senatore (Gimnasia y Esgrima)

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Tordos), Sebastián Cancelliere (Hindú), Martín Landajo (CASI), Santiago González Iglesias (Alumni), Juan Martín Hernández (Deportiva Francesa), Nicolás Sánchez (Tucumán Lawn Tennis), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Duendes), Bautista Ezcurra (Hindú), Matías Moroni (CUBA), Matías Orlando (Huirapuca), Emiliano Boffelli (Duendes), Santiago Cordero (Regatas Bella Vista), Ramiro Moyano (Lince), Joaquín Tuculet (Los Tilos)

FIXTURES
Nov 11 – vs England – Twickenham, London
Nov 18 – vs Italy – Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence
Nov 25 – vs Ireland – Aviva Stadium, Dublin