Pumas announce November squad

Juan Martin Hernandez has been included in the Argentina squad for next month's tour of Europe after recovering from a hand injury.

Juan Martin Hernandez has been included in the Argentina squad for next month's tour of Europe after recovering from a hand injury.

The full-back missed the Pumas' 63-9 defeat to South Africa in August but returns to coach Santiago Phelan's 29-man squad for matches against France on November 8, Italy a week later and Ireland on November 22.

Phelan has also included four uncapped players – CASI scrum-half Agustin Figuerola, Jockey Club Salta prop Juan Figallo, Universitario La Plata second-rower Mariano Galarza and Italy's Rovigo prop Juan Pablo Orlandi.

“After the defeat to South Africa, the idea is to have a fresh start,” said Phelan.

“We must consider our position in the rankings ahead of the (2011) World Cup.

“This is a good chance to give the opportunity to young players we believe have the potential to progress.

“Juan Figallo was great in the U20 World Cup. He is a complete player. The same goes for Orlandi, whose form for Argentina A has been very good so it's good for them to join the tour.

“Mariano Galarza has an important physical shape. He started at Universitario La Plata and we know him from his participation in the Buenos Aires regional team. He is very good technically.

“Agustin Figuerola and Nicolas Bruzzone are two young players who have been playing well. They are technically able so we want to take profit from that.”

Argentina : Eusebio Guinazu (Agen), Horacio Agulla (Brive), Mario Ledesma (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Agustin Figuerola (CASI), Rafael Carballo (Castres Olympique), Martin Durand (Champagnat), Lucas Borges, Federico Martin Aramburu, Nicolas Vergallo (all Dax), Bernardo Stortoni (Glasgow Warriors), Gonzalo Tiesi (Harlequins), Santiago Fernandez (Hindu), Juan Figallo (Jockey Club Salta), Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), Felipe Contepomi (Leinster), Miguel Avramovic (Montauban), Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan), Alvaro Galindo (Racing Metro), Juan Pablo Orlandi (Rovigo), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Sale Sharks), Nicolas Bruzzone (SIC), Francisco Leonelli (Saracens), Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Rodrigo Roncero (all Stade Francais), Patricio Albacete, Alberto Vernet Basualdo (both Stade Toulousian), Esteban Lozada (Toulon), Mariano Galarza (Universitario La Plata).