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Reinforcements have arrived in Salta for Los Pumas. Argentina are preparing for the second test match against Scotland. Michael Cheika’s team were 26-18 winners over Scotland in Jujuy in the first test.
Starting fly half Nicolás Sánchez was injured during the match and Tomás Cubelli ruled-out shortly before kick-off. This followed Benjamin Urdapilleta missing the match and Gonzalo Garcia being forced out of the series through injury. Felipe Ezcurra and Domingo Miotti have now joined the roster in Salta.
Argentina had no replacement for Sánchez. When he left the field hurt, Cheka brought on Santiago Carreras. This saw the fullback playing at fly half. It matches how Mario Ledesma structured the team for the majority of 2021, though it was not what had been the plans given the make-up of the roster.
Miotti’s return gives Argentina a specialist fly half who will be considered for the test match in Salta. Miotti has four caps for Los Pumas. He now plays his rugby for the Glasgow Warriors in the United Rugby Championship (URC) but did not have regular opportunities at fly half in the recently completed season.
Urdapilleta is now training with the roster. He and Miotti are the specialist fly half options with Carreras giving Cheika three from which to construct his team for the Salta test match.
Bertranou started in Jujuy. He did so after having not been in the initial plans for the series against Scotland. He had been named on the Argentina XV roster to tour Georgia and Portugal. Bertranou took the opportunity well as he had an excellent match in Jujuy. He had no understudy; the late change with Cubelli missing out meant winger Juan Imhoff was added to the replacements.
Lautaro Bazán Vélez missed out on the match in Jujuy and remains a serious doubt for both Salta and Santiago del Estero. The uncapped scrum-half was preferred to both Bertranou and Felipe Ezcurra for the series against Scotland.
The needs of the team now see Ezcurra with Los Pumas in Salta. The 15-time capped Puma joins Cubelli, and Bertranou as options for the Salta test match. Both Cubelli and Ezcurra play their rugby for teams that will feature in the upcoming Pro D2 season.
Argentina’s preparations for Salta have also been boosted elsewhere. Loose head prop Thomas Gallo and second-rower Tomás Lavanini are both training and will be free to play. They missed out on the match in Jujuy due to minor injuries.
