Argentina name 28-man squad for Autumn tests training

Argentina has announced a 22-man training squad in preparation for its forthcoming three test matches, including one against Ireland at Lansdowne Road on November 27th. The squad does not include three of the most familiar names to Irish supporters in scrumhalf Augusto Pichot, fullback Ignacio Corleto, Leinster’s Felipe Contepomi and Leeds’ Diego Albanese.

All four are recovering from injury at this point – Pichot with a knee, Corleto a broken shin bone, Contepomi a neck injury and Albanese a shoulder. Contepomi, though, is expected to return to action before the end of this month.

Nonetheless, there is still plenty of quality and many familiar names in the squad. Lisandro Arbizu, Argentina’s most-capped player, is included having missed out on the World Cup through injury. All bar three of the named squad are pursuing their careers with French clubs and training will take place in Paris.

Their forward unit will be as strong as ever, including such as Ledesma, Scelzo, Roncero in the front row, Rimas Alvarez and Albacete in the second row and Lucas Ostiglia and Gonzalo Longo in the back row.

The backline includes exciting talents in Martin Gaitan from Biarritz, who broke through very well in the World Cup, Hernan Senillosa and Juan Martin Hernandez, who has been putting pressure on Corleto at fullback. In the absence of Contepomi, Gonzalo Quesada would appear likely to be the outhalf.

The squad’s other two fixtures are against France (Nov. 20th) in Marseille and South Africa (Dec. 4th) in Buenos Aires. Argentinian-based players and those that recover from injury in time will also be in contention for final squad places.

Training Squad:
Forwards – Patricio Albacete (Pau), Rimas Alvarez (Perpignan), Pablo Cardinali (Beziers), Hugo Dande (Rovigo), Martin Durand (Montpellier), Omar Hasan (Toulouse), Mario Ledesma (Castres), Gonzalo Longo (Montferrand), Lucas Ostiglia (Padova), Augusto Petrilli (Bourgoin), Daniel Rodriguez (Brive), Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais), Martin Scelzo (Montferrand), Martin Schusterman (Plymouth)
Backs – Matias Albina (Bourgoin), Lisandro Arbizu (Bayonne), Martin Gaitan (Biarritz), Gonzalo Quesada (Stade Francais), Juan Martin Hernandez (Stade Francais), Federico Aramburu (Biarritz), Hernan Senillosa (Montferrand), Federico Todeschini (Beziers).