Hourcade names depleted Pumas

Editor

Daniel Hourcade has, as expected, named a weakened Argentina side to face Ireland at Estadio Centenario in Saturday's first Test.

Argentina coach Daniel Hourcade has, as expected, announced a weakened XV that will face Ireland in Resistencia.

The Pumas named two separate squads for the June internationals and Rugby Championship, with the latter seeing their star players included.

Because of this there is a lack of Juan Martin Hernandez, Horacio Agulla, Marcelo Bosch, Agustín Creevy, Juan Imhoff, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Pablo Matera and the like involved this month.

However, Martín Landajo and Nicolás Sánchez will form a strong half-back combination for the opening Test against while Manuel Carizza wears number four and Joaquin Tuculet is at full-back.

Argentina: 15 Joaquin Tuculet, 14 Santiago Cordero, 13 Jerónimo De la Fuente, 12 Gabriel Ascarate, 11 Manuel Montero, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Benjamin Macome, 7 Tomás De la Vega, 6 Rodrigo Baez, 5 Tomas Lavanini, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Matías Cortese, 1 Lucas Noguera Paz.
Replacements: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Bruno Postiglioni, 18 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Javier Ortega Desio, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Santiago González Iglesias, 23 Lucas González Amorosino.

Date: Saturday, June 7
Kick-off: 15:40 local (19:40 BST, 18:40 GMT)
Venue: Estadio Centenario, Resistencia, Chaco
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand), Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)
Assessor: Clayton Thomas (Wales)