Daniel Hourcade
Los Pumas have retained the squad that stunned the Springboks at the weekend, except for injured centre Jerónimo De la Fuente.
They have also added 6 players for the Test rematch in Buenos Aires on Saturday.
A rib injury rules De la Fuente out of a game which offers the Pumas a chance to prove that a historic 37 / 25 Rugby Championship triumph in Durban 3 days ago was not a fluke.
It was the 1st Pumas victory in 20 Tests against the Springboks from South Africa and their 1st away win in the Southern Hemisphere championship after 10 losses since debuting 3 seasons ago.
Argentina took 26 players to South Africa last week and coach Daniel Hourcade has expanded the squad to 31 for the rematch with the Springboks at the 50 000-capacity Estadio Jose Amalfitani.
The 6 additions are fullback Santiago Cordero, centre Matias Moroni, flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez and loose forwards Javier Ortega Desio, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe and Facundo Isa.
“While we are thrilled at our famous victory in Durban, the focus has already switched to the rematch,” flank Pablo Matera said Monday – before flying from Johannesburg to Buenos Aires.
“It is going to be extremely tough in Buenos Aires, because the Springboks are hurting and they will throw everything at us.”
Asked what was the secret behind the sensational success in Durban, Matera responded: “Self belief. We were convinced that we would win.”
Defeat caused 2-time world champions South Africa to drop 3 places on the official international rankings to 5th while Argentina remained 8th.
The Buenos Aires Test will be the last for Argentina and South Africa before the 18 September kick-off of the Rugby World Cup in England.
South Africa are in Pool B with Japan, Samoa, Scotland and the United States and Argentina are in Pool C with title-holders New Zealand, Georgia, Namibia and Tonga.
Los Pumas squad:
Forwards: Matias Allemanco, Marcos Ayerza, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Agustin Creevy (captain), Javier Ortega Desio, Matias Diaz, Facundo Isa, Tomas Lavanini, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Lezana, Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Benjamin Macome, Pablo Matera, Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera, Juan Pablo Orlandi, Guido Petti Pagadizabal, Leonardo Senatore.
Backs: Horacio Agulla, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Marcelo Bosch, Santiago Cordero, Tomas Cubelli, Juan Martin Hernández, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Imhoff, Martin Landajo, Matias Moroni, Nicolas Sanchez, Juan Pablo Socino, Joaquin Tuculet.
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