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Five European-based players, two potential debutants named in Argentina squad to face All Blacks

Facundo Isa in action for Toulon. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

Five European-based players have been named in Mario Ledsema’s 30-man Argentina squad to face the All Blacks in their Rugby Championship opener in Buenos Aires next weekend.

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Toulon No. 8 Facundo Isa is included in the national set-up for the first time since early 2017 following his departure from the Jaguares for the Top 14 in France.

The 25-year-old isn’t the only member of the squad who has returned after being exiled from the national side since leaving South America two years ago, with Exeter Chiefs wing Santiago Cordero named in the outside backs as he looks to earn his first test cap since October 2017.

Propping pair Juan Figallo of Saracens and Ramiro Herrera of Stade Francais are also included after featuring for the Pumas last year.

Their presence in the squad bolsters Argentina’s strong front row stocks, with Jaguares quintet Augustin Creevy, Santiago Medrano, Julian Montoya, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Mayco Vivas all featured.

The fifth offshore-based player is Herrera’s Stade Francais teammate Nicolas Sanchez, who joins Joaquin Diaz Bonilla as the only two first-fives in the team.

Ledsema had previously named a sixth European-based player in his extended 46-man pre-World Cup squad, but Castres pivot Benjamin Urdapilleta has been excluded from the condensed squad due to injury.

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The vast majority of the remainder of the side is composed of Jaguares players, including 53-test lock Matias Alemmano, who has been named despite missing most of the Super Rugby season.

Also included are uncapped duo Lucas Mensa and Manuel Montero.

The midfielder and winger have been playing for the Argentina XV in the Americas Rugby Championship, and are the only Argentine-based players in the squad who do not play for the Jaguares.

30-man Argentina squad to face All Blacks:

FORWARDS

Matías Alemanno, Agustín Creevy, Juan Figallo, Ramiro Herrera, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Tomás Lezana, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano, Julián Montoya, Javier Ortega Desio, Guido Petti, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Mayco Vivas.

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BACKS

Emiliano Boffelli, Sebastián Cancelliere, Santiago Cordero, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Lucas Mensa, Manuel Montero, Matías Moroni, Ramiro Moyano, Matías Orlando, Nicolás Sánchez, Joaquín Tuculet.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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