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Argentina’s three July test matches follow the World Cup and a very busy professional season. Players need rest, but when and how? Few rugby people on the planet have a better understanding of the problem than does Felipe Contepomi. The new Head Coach is a former captain and a man who played professional rugby in European elite competitions from 2001-2013.
The short answer is that it is a case to case basis. The ongoing season will come to an end at different times for different players. Organizing who rests when will also be juggled to ensure rest before the Rugby Championship.
Contepomi is in regular contact with the players. While no roster has been announced, those from the recent training camp in London are certainly the prime candidates. Some were carrying injuries and others have since been sidelined.
The match against Los Teros is an opportunity in and of itself. It is the only Tier 1 fixture that Argentina will play all year. Some who miss the French test series could return while if there was ever, in 2024, a time for a debut cap this is it. Selecting Los Pumas line-up to face Uruguay involves this balance
The July 20 match in Maldonado, Uruguay coincides with the Olympic Games. Many Teros will miss out as will 2023 rookie Puma Rodrigo Isgró. Meanwhile, the u20 World Championship finishes on July 19.
Another factor of note is age. Since the World Cup, Francisco Gómez Kodela has retired. Tomás Cubelli and Nicolás Sánchez have not but missed the training camp as did Agustín Creevy. Scrum-half, fly half and hooker may all see uncapped players such as Agustín Moyano, Joaquín de la Vega Mendía and Bautista Bernasconi are examples.
There could thus be a choice between the uncapped de la Vega Mendía, Gerónimo Prisciantelli or a recall for former Puma Domingo Miotti. The same logic would apply to Agustín Moyano or Gonzalo García.
Also to be considered are those returning from injuries. Gonzalo Bertranou and Pablo Matera both returned in April while Santiago Grondona is yet to do so and Matías Alemanno may sit out the remainder of the season for Gloucester.
The English Premiership finishes on June 08. The United Rugby Championship (URC) and Super Rugby Pacific finish on June 22. The Top 14 Final is one week later. The Final in Japan will be on May 25.
This implies that Guido Petti, Santiago Chocobares, and Juan Cruz Mallía will finish the latest and thus need different management than others. In addition, the workload of Julián Montoya, Joel Sclavi, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Carreras, Lucio Cinti, and Juan Martín González illustrates players who are priorities for rest time.
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ARGENTINA – Selecting a Line-up
| # | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
| 1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 23 |
| 2 | Ignacio Ruiz | Perpignan (FR) | HK | 6 |
| 3 | Eduardo Bello | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | TH | 21 |
| 4 | Franco Molina | Dogos | LO | – |
| 5 | Tomás Lavanini | Clermont (FR) | LO | 86 |
| 6 | Juan Martín González | Saracens (UK) | FL/N8 | 31 |
| 7 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | FL/N8 | 2 |
| 8 | Rodrigo Bruni | Bayonne (FR) | N8 | 26 |
| 9 | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | Rovigo (IT) | SH | 13 |
| 10 | Domingo Miotti | Oyonnax (FR) | FH | 5 |
| 11 | Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | WI | 17 |
| 12 | Jerónimo de la Fuente (C) | Perpignan (FR) | CE | 78 |
| 13 | Matías Moroni | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | CE | 80 |
| 14 | Bautista Delguy | Clermont (FR) | WI | 25 |
| 15 | Martín Bogado | Highlanders (NZ) | FB | 3 |
| 16 | Bautista Bernasconi | Benetton (IT) | HK | – |
| 17 | Mayco Vivas | Gloucester (UK) | LH | 20 |
| 18 | Lucio Sordoni | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | TH | 4 |
| 19 | Pedro Rubiolo | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | FL/LO | 10 |
| 20 | Marcos Kremer | Clermont (FR) | FL/LO | 64 |
| 21 | Agustín Moyano | Dogos | SH | – |
| 22 | Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | FH | 5 |
| 23 | Ignacio Mendy | Benetton (IT) | WI/FB | 1 |
