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Los Pumas will play host to Scotland in July. The three test matches are all to be in Northern Argentina and they are Los Pumas’ first home matches in three years. Players are chomping at the bit to run out of the tunnel and on to the field. Club performances will impact selection. What, then is the probable roster for July?
Head Coach Micheal Cheika has been open – “play well and we are watching.” We refers to him and his coaching staff who include former pros in Europe Andrés Bordoy, Felipe Contepomi, and Juan Martin Fernández Lobbe.
The roster is to contain between 31 and 33 players. Cheika has been in contact with 70 players. Americas Rugby News estimated a list of names on the radar in March.
ARN projects that European-based players will dominate the roster for July. Players will be considered from everywhere. From Super Rugby this means Pablo Matera and Santiago Medrano. Both men are certain to be selected and will not require rest time.
Those who may require rest time are players who play in the Top 14, United Rugby Championship (URC), English Premiership or Pro D2 who clubs will compete in the play-off’s. The finals will be played between June 05 and June 25.
Players who play in these leagues, or others, whose teams are not involved will be available for selection sooner. In all likelihood there will be a case-by-case decision and not a rule put in place to determine who is selected.
LOS PUMAS – PROBABLE ROSTER VS SCOTLAND
LOOSE HEAD PROP
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Ignacio Calles | Pau (FR) | 2 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | 4 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Benetton (IT) | 67 | 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth |
Rodrigo Martínez is out of the July internationals through injury. Facundo Gigena is very close to inclusion with ARN placing him on stand-by.
HOOKER
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Agustín Creevy | London Irish (UK) | 89 | 2019 vs USA at Kumagaya |
| Julián Montoya | Leicester Tigers (UK) | 75 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Santiago Socino | Gloucester (UK) | 4 | 2021 vs Australia at Townsville |
Julián Montoya is included on the list as captain but ARN does not project him to start. He will require rest and Agustín Creevy is ready to wear the 2 shirt now when his country need him. Facundo Bosch is projected as being rested for July while Pablo Dimcheff is the ARN choice for stand-by hooker.
TIGHT HEAD PROP
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Eduardo Bello | Zebre (IT) | 2 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Santiago Medrano | Western Force (AU) | 27 | 2021 vs Italy at Treviso |
| Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | – | – |
Tight -head prop is a position of goring confidence for Los Pumas. Francisco Gómez Kodela is in firm control of the starting position. He requires a rest based on his busy season and age. Santiago Medrano will need no rest while Joel Sclavi is poised to debut. Enrique Pieretto is ARN’s projection as the player on stand-by.
SECOND-ROW
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Marcos Kremer | Stade Français (FR) | 44 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Tomás Lavanini | Clermont (FR) | 68 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Franco Molina | Selknam (CL) | – | – |
| Lucas Paulos | Brive (FR) | 5 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
Argentina do not lack options in the second-row. This means that Argentina can rest players for July and ARN believes Matías Alemanno and Guido Petti may be rested. Rodrigo Fernández Criado is out injured while Nahuel Milán is projected as being on stand-by.
FLANKER
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Juan Martín González | London Irish (UK) | 8 | 2021 vs Italy at Treviso |
| Francisco Gorrissen | Vannes (FR) | 2 | 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast |
| Santiago Grondona | Exeter Chiefs (UK) | 6 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Pablo Matera | Crusaders (NZ) | 80 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
Argentina’s flanker options are strong. This sees Tomás Lezana is projected as the player on stand-by. Pablo Matera’s involvement in New Zealand means rotation can be avoided.
N8
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Rodrigo Bruni | Vannes (FR) | 14 | 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast |
| Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | 37 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
There is no need to convert a flanker to N8, though Matera and Grondona have both played in the position in 2022. Joaquín Oviedo is positioned as the player on stand-by.
SCRUM-HALF
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Gonzalo Bertranou | Dragons (UK) | 37 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Tomás Cubelli | Biarritz (FR) | 82 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Gonzalo García | Valorugby Emilia (IT) | 3 | 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast |
Scrum-half is a position with many options but one that there is plenty of room for players to claim the spot. Gonzalo García is projected to be the starting 9 before the end of July. Following his excellent SLAR season, Eliseo Morales is ARN’s choice for the stand-by scrum-half.
FLY HALF
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | – | – |
| Nicolás Sánchez | Stade Français (FR) | 93 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
Uncapped Tomás Albornoz is well-placed to debut in July. Santiago Carreras is selected as a winger, though may well play again at fly half. Not considered is Benjamín Urdapilleta. The Castres play-maker is projected to be rested while Domingo Miotti is on stand-by.
INSIDE CENTER
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | 5 | 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast |
| Jerónimo de la Fuente | Perpignan (FR) | 65 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
In a luxury of riches, two excellent players are listed as the inside centers. Bot included is Lucas Mensa who is projected as being rested. Juan Pablo Castro is the stand-by player for the position.
OUTSIDE CENTER
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Lucio Cinti | London Irish (UK) | 7 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | 13 | 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast |
| Matías Orlando | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | 47 | 2021 vs Australia at Sydney |
ARN believes that Matías Moroni will be rested. He has played comparatively more than the others included in the position. Of them Lucio Cinti may play wing and Juan Cruz Mallía may play fullback; however, all are also in the frame for the 13 shirt.
WING
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | 5 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | 19 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Bautista Delguy | Perpignan (FR) | 22 | 2021 vs France at Paris |
In terms of depth, wing is possibly Argentina’s greatest position. ARN believes that this will contribute to the resting of players in July. Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff fall into this category. Uncapped Julián Domínguez is on stand-by.
FULLBACK
| PLAYER | CLUB | CAPS | LAST CAP |
| Emiliano Boffelli | Edinburgh (UK) | 38 | 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin |
| Ignacio Mendy | Jaguares XV | 1 | 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth |
Two players are included as fullbacks, though there are others above who have prior time in the position and may start. Similarly, both players named may start on the wing against Scotland. ARN deems Gerónimo Prisciantelli to be on standby as a utility back.
