Bertranou in Jaguares XV roster for Currie Cup

Gonzalo Bertranou has been named in a squad of 32 players nominated by the UAR to compete in the Currie Cup First Division. The return of the Pumas scrumhalf ahead of schedule from a shoulder injury is a boost to Argentina’s World Cup plans, one of nine Super Rugby players named in the ‘Jaguares XV’ squad headed for South Africa.

Props Javier Díaz and Lucio Sordoni will look to gain valuable game time, as will loose forward Rodrigo Bruni. Bertranou could find himself partnered with Domingo Miotti in the halfbacks, with versatile backs Bautista Ezcurra, Bautista Delguy, Santiago Carreras, and Juan Cruz Mallía also named.

The presence of Ezcurra and Delguy in particular suggest that Rugby Championship call-ups could be coming for Pucará pair Lucas Mensa and Manuel Montero, both of whom were included in Mario Ledesma’s extended World Cup training squad. Meanwhile Felipe Ezcurra is set to deputise for Tomás Cubelli with Martín Landajo sidelined and Bertranou starting his comeback.

Otherwise the squad is composed of those who have appeared for the Argentina XV in the Americas Rugby Championship, South American Championship, and Nations Cup competitions. Standouts include second row Franco Molina, flankers Lautaro Bavaro and Francisco Gorrissen, and outside backs Facundo Cordero and Julián Domínguez.

The nine-week competition begins on the July 5/6 weekend, with the final slated for August 30.

FORWARDS
Javier Díaz (Jaguares), Martín Fernández Segurotti (Curupaytí), Rodrigo Martínez (Los Tordos), Nicolás Solveyra (CUBA), Lucio Sordoni (Jaguares), José Luis González (Tucumán RC), Leonel Oviedo (Córdoba Athletic), Ignacio Calas (La Tablada), Franco Molina (Jockey Córdoba), Lucas Santa Cruz (Pucará), Jerónimo Ureta (Newman), Lautaro Bavaro (Hindú), Rodrigo Bruni (Jaguares), Francisco Gorrissen (Belgrano), Santiago Grondona (Champagnat), Santiago Montagner (Alumni), Santiago Portillo (Los Tarcos)

BACKS
Gonzalo Bertranou (Jaguares), Gregorio del Prete (San Luis), Teo Castiglioni (GER), Martín Elías (Atlético del Rosario), Domingo Miotti (Jaguares), Juan Pablo Castro (San Juan), Tomás Cubilla (Alumni), Bautista Ezcurra (Jaguares), Agustín Segura (Jockey Córdoba), Mateo Carreras (Los Tarcos), Facundo Cordero (Regatas Bella Vista), Bautista Delguy (Jaguares), Julián Domínguez (Pucará), Santiago Carreras (Jaguares), Juan Cruz Mallía (Jaguares)