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Argentina have suffered a hammer blow; Santiago Chocobares is out for 2022 through injury. The inside center from Rufino is to undergo knee surgery. He suffered a partial rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and will be out for between six and eight months.
Chocobares could technically play again in 2022 though the chances of the first choice 12 playing for Los Pumas are very low. The Toulouse center will recover and prepare to return during the 2022-2023 Top 14 season.
Argentina’s November fixtures in Europe will be an all-UK tour with matches against England, Scotland and Wales. The timing of these matches combined with the six month minimal recovery period mean his next opportunity for a test cap will be in the RWC 2o23 year.
The injury means there is a vacancy on the roster to face Scotland in July. No replacement player has yet been announced. Among the options are Lucas Mensa or a player from outside center such as Matías Moroni, Tomás Cubilla or Agustín Segura. All four are on the Argentina XV roster to tour Georgia and Portugal in July.Juan Pablo Castro is another possibility.
Chocobares played in the July 2021 tour to Wales and in the Rugby Championship. He missed Argentina’s tour to France, Italy and Ireland through injury.
