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The Argentina XV have added eight players to face Brazil. The teams will meet in a asecond round match of the Sudamericano 6 Naciones A in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
Following Saturday’s win over Paraguay in Asunción, Felipe Contepomi has gone for fresh faces. Among them are Juan Cruz Mallía who returns from having debuted for Los Jaguares against the Chiefs to be named in the 23.
The Argentina XV is officially the national ‘A’ side. It is, however, used as the third team behind Los Pumas and Los Jaguares. The inclusion of Mallía is to have match practice under his belt would he be required by Mario Ledesma against the Bulls on Saturday May 19.
Having captained the side in Asunción, Tomás Cubelli has been named again. Like Mallía, he is a player being used with an eye to potential Super Rugby involvement ahead of the June Internationals against Wales and Scotland.
The captain against Brazil will not be Cubelli but, rather, Lautaro Bavaro. He returns as does another notable flanker, Mariano Romanini.
In the backs there is a place for Nicolás Cantarutti who was a stand-out performer in 2017 for the Argentina XV but is yet to feature for the team this year. With the retirement of Juan Martín Hernández he is a player worthy of consideration for higher honors.
ARGENTINA XV
Forwards: Felipe Arregui, Lautaro Bavaro, Franco Brarda, Benjamín Espinal, Rodrigo Fernández Criado, Diego Fortuny, José Luis González, Federico Gutiérrez, Benjamín Macome, Julián Martín, Nahuel Milán, Santiago Portillo, Mariano Romanini
Backs: Manuel Bustinduy, Nicolás Cantarutti, Tomás Cubelli, Gregorio del Prete, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Facundo Ferrario, Juan Cruz González, Francisco Liotta, Juan Cruz Mallía, Tomás Videla
