Los Jaguares Head Coach, Gonzalo Quesada faces some big calls for the season’s opening match against the Lions. He is already without regular captain, Jerónimo de la Fuente, a situation which saw the captaincy go to Tomás Cubelli or Julián Montoya against the Georgia XV.
Options to cover the inside center position exist with Quesada having three options. The first is (a) to play Lucas Mensa, a Puma who is yet to play Super Rugby; (b) Santiago Chocobares, a rookie; or Matias Orlando, a natural outside center who played at inside center in 2019 when required.
The second-row position has less options for Quesada. Matías Alemanno has been ruled out of the first round of Super Rugby. He started in game one against the Georgia XV and was a late withdrawal from the second match against the same side.
Some are expecting Matiás Alemanno to cover for Tomás Lavanini who is now playing for the Leicester Tigers in the UK. With Alemanno injured the only Pumas second-rower who will be available to face the Lions is Guido Petti. The solution likely means Marcos Kremer will not play flanker but lock the scrum.
Aside from Kremer and Petti the additional players are Lucas Paulos, who debuted in 2019 or a rookie. Rodrigo Fernández Criado started in game two against the Georgia XV while Ignacio Callas was a replacement.