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Changes have been made to the Pumas roster for Mendoza. Argentina will play host to South Africa on Saturday in a round two Rugby Championship match.
The Mendoza test match takes place seven days after the round one match in Durban. The Springboks were 34-21 winners in the opening round, completing a six tries to three victory.
For the rematch Mario Ledesma has called upon reinforcements. The first of these comes in his former playing position of hooker. Joining the roster is the uncapped Facundo Bosch. The Agen forward is the second player based abroad to be selected.
Jaguares first choice inside center Jerónimo de la Fuente is the second big name player added. Both de la Fuente and Bosch are certainties for the match-day 23 in Mendoza.
Also added is uncapped utility back Santiago Álvarez Fourcade and 2018 Pumitas fullback Santiago Carreras. Both players have been added as precautions, with Álvarez Fourcade covering the centers due to a lack of fit players in the position.
Ledesma was without Matías Orlando in Durban. Orlando partnered de la Fuente for the bulk of the Super Rugby season but was unfit to face South Africa. He has now also been ruled out of playing in Mendoza.
Orlando and winger Sebastián Cancelliere both watched on from the sidelines in Durban injured. Neither player will play until at least Argentina’s tour to Oceania. It leaves Matías Moroni as the one fit specialist outside center in addition to Bautista Delguy, and Ramiro Moyano as the wingers.
In regards to Bosch he is a call-up for Julián Montoya, the understudy to captain Agustín Creevy. Montoya missed out on playing in Durban and is to be out of action for at least one more test match. In his place Diego Fortuny made his debut for Los Pumas on Saturday. Bosch will be elevated above Fortuny for Mendoza.
ARGENTINA
Forwards: Matías Alemanno, Facundo Bosch, Rodrigo Bruni, Agustín Creevy (capt.), Juan Figallo, Diego Fortuny, Santiago García Botta, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Tomás Lezana, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano, Javier Ortega Desio, Guido Petti, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Juan Pablo Zeiss
Backs: Santiago Álvarez Fourcade, Gonzalo Bertranou, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Carreras, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Bautista Ezcurra, Santiago González Iglesias, Martín Landajo, Juan Cruz Mallía, Matías Moroni, Ramiro Moyano, Nicolás Sánchez
