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Argentina name nervous squad

Wednesday 30th July 2008

Mario Ledesma: Sceptical

Argentina have named their squad for the match against South Africa on August 9 to mark the 90th birthday of Nelson Mandela and to give the Springboks a useful workout after a long break from their Tri-Nations rigours.

But the squad, which features a number of players currently enjoying down-time from their European seasons, is a little sceptical of the match, as it has interrupted many's holidays

"It's not the moment to compete against the Springboks," said hooker Mario Ledesma to Rugby Week.

"We're not going there in the best of conditions and the majority are getting back from vacations.

"The preseason games are usually played against a weaker team and we have to go up against the world champion," echoed centre Miguel Avramovic.

"The South Africans are in full activity and playing in the Tri-Nations.

"I hope we win, but the only thing I'm sure about is that when the game finishes I'm going to be completely out of gas."

There was good news for the Pumas, with the late addition of World Cup loose forward Juan Fernandez Lobbe, whose Sale club originally wouldn't release him.

Fly-halves Juan Martin Hernandez and Marcelo Bosch are both injured, and Tomas de Vedia and Gonzalo Tiesi have not been released by their English clubs.

Argentina squad:

Forwards: Horacio Agulla, Patricio Albacete, Rimas Alvarez, Miguel Avramovic, Lucas Borges, Rafael Carballo, Manuel Carizza, Felipe Contepomi, Martin Durand, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Alvaro Galindo, Juan Francisco Gomez, Pablo Henn.

Backs: Alfredo Lalanne, Pedro Ledesma, Mario Ledesma, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Esteban Lozada, Federico Martin Aramburu, Jose Nez Piossek, Rodrigo Roncero, Hernan Senillosa, Bernardo Stortoni, Benjam�n Urdapilleta, Nicolas Vergallo, Alberto Vernet Basualdo.