Argentina dealt a hammer blow for Springboks showdown as title contenders reveal their squad
Argentina prop Eduardo Bello and head coach Felipe Contepomi. (Photo: James Foy / Speed Media AU / Iconsportswire)
Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has made some changes to his squad for their upcoming clash against the Springboks in Santiago del Estero on September 21.
Contepomi’s squad has a familiar look to it but they will be without the services of experienced front-row Eduado Bello, who was forced to withdraw from the group due to injury.
The 28-year-old ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Los Pumas‘ emphatic 67-27 victory over the Wallabies in Santa Fe on Saturday, and drops out of the 32-man squad for the Rugby Championship clash with the world champions.
Added two players as front-row cover
Contepomi has brought in two front-rowers in Lucio Sordoni and Ignacio Calles as cover for Bello, who will undergo surgery, while veteran outside back Matias Moroni also returns to the squad.
Apart from Bello, Argentina will also be without the most capped player in their history, Agustin Creevy, who retired from international rugby after Los Pumas’ narrow 20-19 defeat to the Wallabies in La Plata.
Veteran duo Matías Alemanno (second-row) and Santiago Cordero (wing) have also dropped out of the squad while Contepomi named Matias Medrano (prop) and Joaquin Moro (lock) as development players in his squad.
South Africa are sitting pretty at the top of the Rugby Championship standings with 18 points amassed after notching four victories in as many games, while Argentina are in second place on 10 points, followed by New Zealand (seven) and Australia (four).
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Contepomi is looking forward to the showdown against Rassie Erasmus’ charges who, will host Los Pumas in the corresponding fixture in Nelspruit on September 28.
“The Rugby Championship final is coming up and it is a very important moment for us given that we are going to face the two-time world champions,” he said.
“Without a doubt, these are going to be two great matches and we will face them with a lot of responsibility. We are not measured by results but by our actions and our behavior, and that is where we will put our focus in the next two weeks.
“I would like to thank all the Argentine fans for all their affection for the team and tell them that we are very happy to meet again in Santiago del Estero in the next few days.”
Argentina squad to face South Africa
Forwards: Bautista Bernasconi, Ignacio Calles, Pedro Delgado, Thomas Gallo, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Santiago Grondona, Marcos Kremer, Tomas Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Franco Molina, Julian Montoya, Joaquin Oviedo, Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo, Ignacio Ruiz, Joel Sclavi, Lucio Sordoni
Backs: Tomas Albornoz, Lautaro Bazan Velez, Gonzalo Bertranou, Mateo Carreras, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Chocobares, Lucio Cinti, Bautista Delguy, Gonzalo Garcia, Rodrigo Isgro, Juan Cruz Mallia, Ignacio Mendy, Matias Moroni, Matias Orlando, Justo Piccardo
