SQUAD NEWS: Star backrower Isa omitted from Argentina World Cup squad

Rugby World Cup
by AFP

France-based loose forward Facundo Isa was a shock omission from the 31-man Argentina Rugby World Cup named Monday by coach Mario Ledesma in Buenos Aires.

Instead, outsider Rodrigo Bruno got the nod and is among 26 players from Super Rugby runners-up the Jaguares who will travel to Japan for the September 20-November 2 global tournament.

"I was convinced more by other players (than Isa)," Ledesma told reporters after revealing his hand for Pool C matches against France, Tonga, section favourites England and the United States.

"And I wanted to give priority to those playing at home over those based abroad. 

Contrary to what sections of the media thought, Facundo was not a certain choice."

Two Argentina-based non-Jaguares were chosen, plus France-based fly-halves Nicolas Sanchez and Benjamin Urdapilleta and prop Juan Figallo from English
club Saracens.


Argentina went down 24-18 to an experimental South Africa side in Pretoria last Saturday -- their ninth straight defeat since beating Australia away last

equals that record after making the squad for Japan.


Their World Cup record against their pool opponents in Japan is mixed.

They have won two of three clashes with France, beaten Tonga the only time they played and lost both meetings with England. They have never faced their final pool opponent, the United States, at the tournament.

Argentina open their Rugby World Cup campaign in Tokyo against France on September 21.


Argentina World Cup squad


Front rowers


Back rows/second rows

Rodrigo Bruni (Jaguares), Javier Ortega Desio (Jaguares), Marcos Kremer (Jaguares), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Jaguares), Tomas Lezana (Jaguares), Pablo Matera (Jaguares, capt), Matias Alemanno (Jaguares), Tomas Lavanini (Jaguares), Guido Petti (Jaguares)



Tomas Cubelli (Jaguares), Felipe Ezcurra (Hindu)


Nicolas Sanchez (Stade Francais), Benjamin Urdapilleta (Castres)


Jeronimo de la Fuente (Jaguares), Juan Cruz Mallia (Jaguares), Lucas Mensa (Pucara), Matias Moroni (Jaguares), Matias Orlando (Jaguares)

Outside backs

Emiliano Boffelli (Jaguares), Joaquin Tuculet (Jaguares),Santiago Carreras (Jaguares), Bautista Delguy (Jaguares), Ramiro Moyano (Jaguares)