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Argentina have suffered an early injury blow; Matías Orlando is out of the July Internationals. The outside center was injured playing for the Newcastle Falcons. His absence sees a change to the roster. It means Toulouse center Juan Cruz Mallía will now feature for Los Pumas in July.
Mallía was a surprise non-inclusion on the original 32-man roster. Mario Ledesma selected four centers for the July Internationals: Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan, FR), Matías Moroni (Leicester Tigers, UK), Matías Orlando (Newcastle Falcons, UK).
The roster was announced in the week following the European Champions Cup Final. Mallía started for Toulouse and scored the decisive try. His non-selection came down to very little; Argentina’s depth in the position saw an oversupply of centers. Ledesma noted that he would like Mallía’s defense to become more powerful.
Los Pumas will play three test matches in July in Europe. The first will be in Bucharest against Romania on Saturday, July 03. It is to be followed by two matches in Cardiff against Wales.
Questions remain unanswered as to how Argentina will approach the July Internationals. Ledesma may wish to warm-up for Wales by fielding a rotational side against Romania. Alternatively, there may be continuity with minor alternations from one match to the next.
Mallía started against at outside center New Zealand Los Pumas’ second match of the 2020 Tri Nations. Matías Orlando was the starting outside center in the three other test matches. The 2021 July Internationals loom as seeing the returning Matías Moroni as the first choice outside center.
