Changes Made to Argentina Roster to face Springboks

Changes have been made to Argentina’s roster to face the Springboks. Los Pumas take-on the Wold Champions home-and-away in upcoming matches. The first will be in Santiago del Estero on Saturday, September 21 and the second in Nelspruit on Saturday, September 28.

Felipe Contepomi’s Pumas are 2-2 thus far in rugby Championship 2024. Argentina defeated the All Blacks 38-30 in Wellington, New Zealand but fell to a 42-10 defeat in Auckland, New Zealand. The team lost 20-19 in the final play against Australia in La Plata before breaking records in winning 67-27 in Santa Fe.

South Africa are unbeaten thus far in the 2024 Rugby Championship. Rassie Erasmus’ team defeated the Wallabies 33-7 in Brisbane, Australia and 30-12 en Perth, Australia. The Springboks also won both matches against New Zealand. South Africa won 31-27 in Johannesburg and 18-12 in Cape Town.

 

OUT

The international career of Agustín Creevy concluded against Australia. Creevy announced his retirement in the days ahead of the test match in La Plata. The 39-year-old earned 110 caps for Los Pumas from 2005-2024. 

Los Pumas will be without Eduardo Bello against South Africa. Bello suffered a serious knee injury in Santa Fe. He will undergo surgery and be out for between six and eight months. Bello played in both matches against Australia and in the Wellington test match against New Zealand.

Veteran second-rower Matías Alemanno was added to the roster during the Australian series. Alemanno is yet to play in the 2024 Rugby Championship. He featured for Argentina in the July Internationals.

Winger Santiago Cordero started in La Plata but was out of the Santa Fe match-day 23. He is not on the roster to face the Springboks. Mateo Carreras, Bautista Delguy, Rodrigo Isgró, Ignacio Mendy, and Matías Moroni are the wing options.

 

IN

Scrum-half Lautaro Bazán Vélez pulled out of the match in La Plata. He is back on the roster to face the World Champions. Tomás Cubelli had been called-up to replace him but was ruled-out with his spot going to Eliseo Morales. Neither Cubelli nor Morales are on the roster now.

Second-rower Pedro Rubiolo started in La Plata. His time wa highly limited; Rubiolo was knocked-out in the 18th second of the match. He missed the match in Santa Fé due to HIA Protocol and will be fine to face South Africa in the upcoming matches.

Loose head prop Ignacio Calles has also earned a recall. He played out of position at hooker against Uruguay. He featured for Pau at loose head prop this past weekend in the opening round of the French Top 14 season.

New Racing 92 player Lucio Sordoni is back for Argentina. Sordoni started the test match against the All Blacks in Auckland before joining the Top 14 club. Uncapped prop Matías Medrano has been called-up by Contepomi as an invitational player. He played for the Argentina XV vs Brazil on Sunday. The uncapped Pedro Delgado joined the roster during the Australian series.

Rookie Puma Joaquín Moro is also on the roster in an invitational capacity. Moro made his test debut for Los Pumas against Uruguay in July. He had a memorable debut in Punta del Este where he scored two tries.

Veteran center / wing Matías Moroni is back from injury. He started both matches against New Zealand but missed the series against Australia. Moroni has four test tries in prior Rugby Championship matches gains South Africa.

 

ARGENTINA – FORWARDS

LOOSE HEAD PROP  
Ignacio Calles (Pau, FR; 3 caps)
Thomas Gallo (Benetton, IT; 26 caps)
Matías Medrano (Pampas; uncapped)
Mayco Vivas (Gloucester, GB-ENG; 23 caps)

HOOKER
Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton, IT; uncapped)
Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, GB-ENG; 97 caps)
Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR; 9 caps)

TIGHT HEAD PROP  
Pedro Delgado (Dogos; uncapped)
Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR; 18 caps)
Lucio Sordoni (Racing 92, FR; 6 caps)

SECOND-ROW
Tomás Lavanini (Lyon, FR; 86 caps)
Franco Molina (Dogos; 3 caps)
Guido Petti (Bordeaux, FR; 84 caps)
Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons, GB-ENG; 12 caps)

FLANKER
Juan Martín González (Saracens, GB-ENG; 31 caps)
Santiago Grondona (Bristol Beats, GB-ENG; 16 caps)
Marcos Kremer (Clermont, FR; 67 caps)
Pablo Matera (Honda Heat, JP; 101 caps)
Juan Bautista Pedemonte (Vannes, FR; 1 cap)

N8
Joaquín Moro (Pampas; 1 cap)
Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan, FR; 5 caps)

ARGENTINA – BACKS

SCRUM-HALF
Lautaro Bazán Vélez (Benetton, IT; 15 caps)
Gonzalo Bertranou (unattached; 60 caps)
Gonzalo García (Zebre, IT; 4 caps)

FLY HALF
Tomás Albornoz (Benetton, IT; 8 caps)
Santiago Carreras (Gloucester, GB-ENG; 45 caps)

CENTER
Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR; 15 caps)
Lucio Cinti (Saracens, GB-ENG; 23 caps)
Matías Moroni (unattached; 82 caps)
Matías Orlando (Miami Sharks, US; 61 caps)
Justo Piccardo (Pampas; uncapped)

WING
Mateo Carreras (Bayonne, FR; 20 caps)
Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR; 27 caps)
Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, GB-ENG; 3 caps)
Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT; 2 caps)

FULLBACK
Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR; 32 cap)