Felipe Contepomi has named a much-changed Argentina squad for the July Exams with France and Uruguay, leaving out 15 members of the setup eventually yr’s World Cup.
Among the many big-name absentees from Contepomi’s first full squad are ageing Check centurions hooker Agustin Creevy and flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez in addition to utility again Juan Cruz Mallia.
Toulouse’s Mallia, Bordeaux-Begles lock Guido Petti and La Rochelle prop Joel Sclavi are lacking on account of their end-of-season committment with their French golf equipment.
Ex-Pumas playmaker Contepomi took over from Australian Michael Cheika after October’s World Cup third-place playoff loss and assembled a coaching squad, with out enjoying a recreation, in London earlier this yr.
Contepomi has chosen 4 uncapped gamers. Brive prop Francisco Coria Marchetti, Vannes unfastened ahead Bautista Pedemonte in addition to lock Franco Molina and fullback Mateo Soler from the Dogos XV home aspect have but to characteristic for the Check aspect.
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Eleven members of the squad play their membership rugby in France, together with in-form Clermont winger Bautista Delguy.
“This yr is the place to begin of a brand new World Cup cycle with the primary goal of the Australia 2027 World Cup,” Contepomi stated in an Argentine Rugby Union assertion on Wednesday.
“We are going to put numerous emphasis on the restoration of the gamers, and that’s the reason a number of can have a relaxation and will probably be a part of the squad rotation for different video games within the yr [the Rugby Championship and the November window],” he added.
Los Pumas play France on 6 and 13 July earlier than a Check in opposition to Uruguay every week later. They then play six video games in The Rugby Championship earlier than dealing with Italy, Eire and Les Bleus once more in November.
Full Argentina squad – Forwards: Matias Alemanno, Eduardo Bello, Bautista Bernasconi, Ignacio Calles, Santiago Coria Marchetti, Thomas Gallo, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Pablo Matera, Franco Molina, Julian Montoya, Joaquin Moro, Joaquin Oviedo, Lucas Paulos, Bautista Pedemonte, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Lucio Sordoni, Mayco Vivas. Backs: Tomas Albornoz, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Martin Bogado, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Santiago Cordero, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Bautista Delguy, Gonzalo Garcia, Ignacio Mendy, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Mateo Soler
© Agence France-Presse
Photograph: Saeed Khan/AFP
