A Powerful Jaguares Lineup has been named to take-on the Stormers on Saturday. The teams will meet in a Super Rugby warm-up fixture at 11am Argentine time in what is to be the first ever match of Argentina’s first professional team.
Head Coach Raúl Pérez has named thirteen players to start who were involved in Argentina’s Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign. Of them all but Santiago García Botta were on the initial tournament roster.
Leading the team from the front will be Agustín Creevy. The hooker is one of a host of players with prior professional experience in foreign leagues. Both of his front-row colleagues have also played abroad. Santiago García Botta will play loosehead while Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro will do so at tighthead prop.
Behind them Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini (pictured) are to be the run-on combination. The experience Juan Manuel Leguizamón will join the youth of Tomás Lezana and Juan Manuel Leguizamón in what is, remarkably, a back-row made up entirely of players from Santiago del Estero. All come from the Santiago Lawn Tennis Club.
Starting at scrumhalf will be Martín Landajo who will be joined by Nicolás Sánchez in the halves. The duo started together in the Rugby World Cup Quarter Finals and Semi Finals for Los Pumas. On the bench was Jerónimo de la Fuente who will join Matías Moroni in the mid-field.
Outwide Santiago Cordero and Matías Orlando are to be the starting wingers with Joaquín Tuculet completing the starting lineup at fullback.
The remainder of the roster will be free to feature from the bench due.
Jaguares
15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Orlando, 13 Matías Moroni, 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 11 Santiago Cordero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 6 Tomás Lezana, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 4 Matías Alemanno, 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Santiago García Botta