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For the final round of the Americas Rugby Championship (ARC) the Argentina XV have added Santiago García Botta. He is one of six changes made by Felipe Contepomi for the final round clash against Brazil on Saturday.
García Botta joins the Argentina XV from Super Rugby. He missed out on playing in Los Jaguares’ season opening fixtures against the Stormers and Lions in South Africa. Felipe Arregui started instead with rookies involved covering both sides of the front-row.
Capped 22 times by Argentina, García Botta started against England, Italy and Ireland in the 2017 November Internationals. He did so ahead of Lucas Noguera Paz, the player ton have held down the Loose Head position since RWC 2015 in place of Marcos Ayerza.
Noguera Paz has since departed Argentina for England. His moving to Bath impacted his position in Los Pumas. The same is true of Ramiro Herrera level for Stade Français and Santiago Cordero to the Exeter Chiefs. Policies from Daniel Hourcade are to utilize other players when a Jaguar is in talks with a foreign club.
In addition to García Botta there are five other changes from the side that defeated Canada in Jujuy. Lautaro Bavaro returns to captain the side with fellow flanker Francisco Gorrissen also returning. Second-rower Diego Galetto and hooker Axel Zapata are the other returning forwards. In the backs the one change sees Julián Domínguez included.
Those missing out on facing Brazil are Gastón Arias, Gaspar Baldunciel, Rodrigo Bruni, Tomás de la Vega, Francisco Ferronato, and Nicolás Sbrocco.
ARGENTINA XV
Forwards: Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), Franco Brarda, Benjamín Espinal, Lucas Favre, Diego Fortuny, Diego Galetto, Santiago García Botta, Francisco Gorrissen, Ignacio Larrague, Santiago Medrano, Santiago Montagner, Santiago Portillo, Mariano Romanini, Jerónimo Ureta, Axel Zapata
Backs: Santiago Alvarez Fourcade, Juan Cappiello, Gregorio del Prete, Julián Domínguez, Rodrigo Etchart, Felipe Ezcurra, Juan Cruz González, Juan Cruz Mallía, Lucas Mensa, Santiago Resino, Germán Schulz
