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Cheika's Pumas lose five players to injury ahead of decider
By AAP
Argentina have lost five more players to injury ahead of their decisive Test against Scotland on Saturday, including captain Julian Montoya.
The home team already had to do without their first choice halfback pairing of Tomas Cubelli and Nicolas Sanchez after both tore muscles in the first Test win over the Scots in San Salvador de Jujuy on July 2.
Now they must do without Montoya, Santiago Cordero, Domingo Miotti and Felipe Ezcurra, all hurt in last Saturday's 29-6 second Test loss in Salta.
Benjamin Urdapilleta is also out after failing to recover from a leg injury, the Argentine Rugby Union said on Tuesday.
Hooker Santiago Socino, prop Eduardo Bello, wing Mateo Carreras and the uncapped pair of Tomas Albornoz and Eliseo Morales have been added to the squad as cover for Saturday's third Test at Santiago del Estero.
Albornoz is a flyhalf with Italian club Treviso while Morales, a scrumhalf, has just returned from Argentina's B team tour to Europe.
A new captain will only be announced when the line-up for the third Test is decided on Thursday by coach Michael Cheika, the former Wallabies mentor.
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Latest Comments
I think the best 15 we have is DMac. Jordan at 14.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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