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Mario Ledesma has added a second European-Based player to Los Pumas. The French Top 14 hooker, Facundo Bosch will join Argentina in Mendoza for the second round of the Rugby Championship.
Uncapped, Bosch has been called-in to the roster following injury to Julián Montoya. The second-choice Argentine hooker was ruled out of the Rugby Championship opener on the eve of the team’s flight from Buenos Aires.
No replacement was added with Diego Fortuny instead taking on the role of deputizing for Agustín Creevy. Like Bosch, Fortuny is uncapped.
Montoya’s injury saw him sidelined for a three week period. With Los Pumas and the Springboks playing over back-to-back weekends in Durban and Mendoza this makes Montoya’s involvement highly problematic.
Ledesma gained the permission of Agen to release Bosch in time for him to be considered for the match in Mendoza. The club itself posted support on social media for Bosch “it is with great pride that we can confirm that Facundo Bosch will play for Los Pumas next weekend against South Africa.”
The call-up of Bosch marks the second European-Based player added to the roster. He joins Juan Figallo who was one of two props officially requested, the second being Ramiro Herrera who is finalizing preseason activity with Stade Français. Figallo will start for Argentina on Saturday.
Current injuries within the roster mean that additional names could yet be added from Europe. Center Matías Orlando and winger Sebastián Cancelliere are both in South Africa but unfit to play. Cancelliere will not be fit for Mendoza while Orlando remains unconfirmed. Jerónimo de la Fuente missed out on selection and remains sidelined.
Cover for these players does not exist within Los Jaguares. Without de la Fuente and Orlando Ledesma is starting Bautista Ezcurra, and Matías Moroni in Durban. This is officially the research mid-field. Behind them Ledesma must look to Europe.
The same holds true of wing. With Cancelliere unavailable to injury Juan Cruz Mallía will cover the position despite having trained as cover for Nicolás Sánchez at fly half. Realistically Manuel Montero (Pucará), Germán Schulz (Tala), Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs), Juan Imhoff (Racing 92), and Axel Muller (Brive) are the potential wing options for Argentina.
The first two are based in Argentina with Montero having plenty of Rugby Championship experience. A call-up for him to tour Oceania is plausible. Imhoff would be free at that time and certainly would be selected as Argentina’s best winger.
The mid-field is less cut-and-dry. Within Argentina there are not ready players comparable to Montero. Ledesma would likely need to select from Europe. Juan Pablo Socino would be the inside center option or, alternatively, include a player from out of position such as fly half Patricio Fernández.
For inside center Marcelo Bosch is out of the frame following surgery. Should a player be needed to fill in for Moroni and Orlando then Mallía is the option within the roster. This being the direction taken then adding an outside back would be a certainty. Alternatively there are some names in Europe in consideration. The uncapped Juan Ignacio Brex looms as a strong contender.
