Argentina coach Marcelo Loffreda has picked 14 players with French clubs in his 30-strong World Cup squad. Ireland play Argentina in their third Pool A game on Sunday, October 26 in Adelaide.
Lisandro Arbizu, an 84-Test veteran who plays for French side Bordeaux-Begles, captains the side to his fourth World Cup. The Pumas can also count on scrum-half Agustin Pichot, who made his comeback to Test rugby after a nine-month injury-enforced break in last week's PanAmerican Cup which Argentina won at a canter against the United States, Canada and Uruguay.
There are 17 forwards and 13 backs. And Loffreda hopes to have sufficient depth in strength to rotate the team during their first round pool matches against Ireland, defending champions Australia, Namibia and Romania. “We will need every one of the squad if we are to succeed," he said.
Argentina Squad: (Forwards): P Albacete (Colomiers), R Alvarez (Perpignan), P Bouza (Duendes), M Durand (Champagnat), I Fernandez Lobbe (Castres), Roberto Grau (Liceo), O Hasan (Agen), M Ledesma (Castres), G Longo (Narbonne), R Martin (San Isidro Club), F Mendez (Mendoza), L Ostiglia (Hindu), S Phelan (CASI), M Reggiardo (Castres), R Roncero (Gloucester), M Scelzo (Narbonne), P Sporleder (Curupayti).
(Backs): D Albanese (Leeds, L Arbizu (Bordeaux-Begles) (capt), F Contepomi (Leinster), M Contepomi (Newman), I Corleto (Stade Francais, J de la Cruz Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), N Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), J Martin Hernandez (Stade Frantais), JM Nunez Piossek (Huirapuca), J Orengo (Grenoble, A Pichot (Stade Francais), G Quesada (Beziers), H Senillosa (Hindu)
