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Mario Ledesma is preparing an altered Jaguares line-up for the season’s opening fixture. The national Super Rugby franchise will face the Argentina XV on Saturday.
For the fixture the new Jaguares Head Coach has a team with a number of fresh faces preparing. In training today in Buenos Aires four players yet to play Super Rugby were in the starting formation – Santiago Álvarez, Sebastián Cancelliere, Bautista Delguy and Nicolás Leiva.
There were also notable selections considering the hierarchy from prior years. Gonzalo Bertranou was used ahead of Martín Landajo. Similarly Matías Orlando made way for Álvarez and Javier Ortega Desio was in the starting formation ahead of Pablo Matera.
Matera is poised to be the team’s vice-captain with Joaquín Tuculet leading the side from fullback. In training today, however, Matera joined Tomás Lezana and Leonardo Senatore in the replacement XV’s back-row.
The selection of Santiago Álvarez over Matías Orlando sees the inclusion of a speedier player rather than a direct-running mid-fielder. It comes at a time in which regular Matías Moroni continues to train individually following shoulder surgery. He is expected back in May.
Also missing out today was Jerónimo de la Fuente. The inside center continues his recovery and is set to sit out Saturday’s match. Santiago González Iglesias is the benefactor with him training in the position.
On the wings Ledesma fielded two players with no prior Super Rugby experience. The decision to play Sebastián Cancelliere and Bautista Delguy follows the release of regulars Santiago Cordero and Manuel Montero. It meant Ramiro Moyano played for the replacement XV as did Emiliano Boffelli, doing so at fullback.
Injured forwards Matías Alemanno and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro were unable to train today. Alemanno’s loss saw Guido Petti and Tomás Lavanini resuming their relationship as the starting combination. The replacement XV saw Marcos Kremer and Benjamín Macome locking the scrum. Kremer did so in addition to training in the starting line-up at flanker.
Tetaz Chaparro’s unavailability meant an opportunity for Nicolás Leiva. The 24-year-old is coming off an outstanding 2017 with Hindú. He was converted from hooker to Tight-Head prop aged 19. Juan Pablo Zeiss trained for the replacement XV at Tight Head prop. Both players are uncapped but have prior Argentina XV experience.
Zeiss packed down with Felipe Arregui and Julián Montoya in the front-row today. He did so with Franco Brarda unable to take part. His injury concerns bring with them potentially significant issues given the loss of Enrique Pieretto for the season.
It also complicates the Argentina XV’s preparation for the Americas Rugby Championship. Franco Brarda, Bautista Delguy, Nicolás Leiva, and Juan Pablo Zeiss were to play for Felipe Contepomi’s side.
On the other hand Contepomi now has Rodrigo Bruni, Javier Díaz, Diego Fortuny, and Santiago Montagner back. All were called-in by Ledesma in an invitational capacity.
The Argentina XV is to open the 2018 Americas Rugby Championship against the USA. The fixture will take place at the StubHub Center in Los Angeles on February 03.
JAGUARES FORMATION IN TRAINING
1 Santiago García Botta, 2 Agustín Creevy, 3 Nicolás Leiva, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Marcos Kremer, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 11 Bautista Delguy, 12 Santiago González Iglesias, 13 Santiago Álvarez, 14 Sebastián Cancelliere, 15 Joaquín Tuculet
JAGUARES RESERVES IN TRAINING
1 Felipe Arregui, 2 Julián Montoya, 3 Juan Pablo Zeiss, 4 Marcos Kremer, 5 Benjamín Macome, 6 Pablo Matera, 7 Tomás Lezana, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 9 Martín Landajo, 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, 11 Bautista Ezcurra, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 13 Matías Orlando, 14 Ramiro Moyano, 15 Emiliano Boffelli
