Argentina announce squad for Scotland and England

Argentina, who recently broke their Rugby Championship duck, are braced for another tough task when the Pumas embark on their European tour, a year ahead of the World Cup.

Daniel Hourcade announced the squad for the tour in November. Picture: Getty

Argentina, drawn in champions New Zealand’s pool for the tournament in England, face Scotland at Murrayfield on 8 November, Italy in Genoa a week later and France in Paris on 22 November.

Injury or illness has forced coach Daniel Hourcade to promote forwards from the second string Jaguars fresh from winning a fifth successive Americas title in Canada.

With lock Mariano Galarza out injured, Hourcade has brought two second row forwards into a 30-man squad, Juan Cruz Guillemain of Stade Francais and Guido Petti of local side SIC.

Also missing from the Rugby Championship squad are flanker Pablo Matera, who dislocated his shoulder in the narrow home defeat by South Africa, and prop Bruno Postiglione, who is recovering from illness.

However, veteran back row forward Juan Manuel Leguizamon is back after a leg muscle tear put him out in the run-in to the southern hemisphere championship.

“Legui” missed Argentina’s 21-17 win over Australia in Mendoza that ended a frustrating three-year wait for the Pumas’ first victory since entering the elite tournament.

Argentina squad: Forwards: J Fernandez Lobbe, J Manuel Leguizamon, L Senatore, B Macome, R Baez, T Lavanini, M Alemanno, J Cruz Guillemain, G Petti, M Ayerza, R Herrera, L Noguera Paz, N Tetaz Chaparro, M Cortese, A Creevy (capt), S Iglesias Valdez.

Backs: J Tuculet, L Gonzalez Amorosino, S Cordero, M Montero, H Agulla, J Imhoff, J de la Fuente, M Moroni, M Bosch, N Sanchez, S Gonzalez Iglesias, J Martin Hernandez, M Landajo, T Cubelli.