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Los Jaguares have added reinforcements for the injured Pablo Matera and Ramiro Moyano. The duo both started against the Brumbies earlier today and were forced off injured.
Head Coach Mario Ledesma has gone for a combination of youth and experience to replace them. Called-up are Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Juan Cruz Mallía.
Juan Manuel Leguizamón is into his third season of Super Rugby. A veteran of 82 caps, Leguizamón has played in three Rugby World Cups. Ledesma has preferred youth in his back-row in 2018 with Pablo Matera, Marcos Kremer and Javier Ortega Desio being the regular starters.
Matera suffered suffered a shoulder sprain and a tendon injury to his left bicep against the Brumbies. He was replaced by Leonardo Senatore at half time. Not involved but with the team is Tomás Lezana, a back-rower now fully recovered from injury.
Joaquín Tuculet is expected to take over the captaincy in the absence of Matera. Both he and Lezana were named as vice-captains by Ledesma in January. Tuculet has started all but one match in the Ledesma regime.
Moyano was replaced in the final minutes against the Brumbies. He suffered bruising in the match and is in doubt for next weekend. Ledesma called-up Mallía from the Argentina XV as cover. As a player who has played outside center, wing and fullback the Jockey Córdoba back offers more than stepping-in as an emergency option.
Should he receive game time then Mallía would make his Super Rugby debut. Prior to the Americas Rugby Championship the 21-year-old Mallía trained under Ledesma in a Jaguares training camp. has
Los Jaguares are to face the Blues in what is their third of a four match tour to Oceania. The final match sees Los Jaguares taking-on the Chiefs in Rotorua on Friday May 04. Both Leguizamón and Mallía are to fly to New Zealand on Monday.
