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Super Rugby player Gabriel Ascárate has been named at fullback vs the USA. The Tucumán center will play out of position in the Americas Rugby Championship tournament decider on Saturday.
Coaches Felipe Contepomi and Ignacio Fernández Lobbe have named Ascárate in an Argentina XV side otherwise packed with former players. An impressive pack has been named. Starting up-front are to be Francisco Ferronato, Gaspar Baldunciel, and Santiago Medrano. They replace Franco Brarda, Marcelo Brandi, and Alejo Brem who started against Brazil.
The outstanding pair of Pedro Ortega and Ignacio Larrague have been retained in the second row. Both players have underlined their credentials as capable players should Los Jaguares require reinforcements.
Lautaro Bavaro will again captain the side from flanker. Veteran Tomás de la Vega has also been retained. The one change sees Mariano Romanini making way for Francisco Gorrissen. The latter misses out altogether with Santiago Montagner named on the bench.
The impressive halves combination of Sebastián Cancelliere and Domingo Miotti has also been retained. Winger Germán Schulz is the only remaining starter from Ushuaia named to also run-on in Comodoro Rivadavia. Schulz is to be joined by Ascárate and Julián Dominguez in the back three.
Completing the starting lineup will be a midfield combination of Bruno Devoto and Santiago Álvarez. Juan Cruz González and Franco Cuaranta will offer utility value from the bench.
ARGENTINA XV
1 Francisco Ferronato, 2 Gaspar Baldunciel, 3 Santiago Medrano, 4 Pedro Ortega, 5 Ignacio Larrague, 6 Francisco Gorrissen, 7 Lautaro Bavaro (capt.), 8 Tomás de la Vega, 9 Sebastián Cancelliere, 10 Domingo Miotti, 11 Julián Domínguez, 12 Bruno Devoto, 13 Santiago Álvarez, 14 Germán Schulz, 15 Gabriel Ascárate
Replacements: 16 Marcelo Brandi, 17 Franco Brarda, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Franco Molina, 20 Santiago Montagner, 21 Lautaro Bazán, 22 Juan Cruz González, 23 Franco Cuaranta
