Argentina name just five foreign-based players for Ireland games

New coach Daniel Hourcade leans on domestic sides for two-Test series

Argentina's new coach Daniel Hourcade has selected just five players who ply their trade outside the South American country for Ireland's two Test tour next month.

Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, who plays fullback with French Top14 club with Oyonnax and 25-year-old Bordeaux Begles outhalf Nicolas Sanchez, who has 17 caps, are included behind the scrum.

A third player based in France, Castres prop Ramiro Herrara, who joined on a medical joker in April, is named alongside two Super 15 players in Western Stormers' secondrow Manuel Carizza and tighthead prop Matias Diaz of the Highlanders up front.

The majority of the Pumas’ European-based players have been omitted – they’ll come together later at a training camp to prepare for the Rugby Championship – which will considerably weaken the home side for the Test matches against Ireland in Resistencia on June 7th and Tucuman on June 14th. Both matches kick-off at 7.40pm Irish time.

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A similarly weakened Argentine side lost 32-3 and 51-26 to a largely second-string England touring side last summer.

ARGENTINA (squad for Tests against Ireland and Scotland): Santiago Cordero (Regatas Bella Vista), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Athletic), Jeronimo De la Fuente (Duendes RC), Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (Oyonnax), Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias (Asociacion Alumni), Martin Landajo (Club Athetic), Manuel Montero (Pucara), Matias Moroni (CUBA), Ramiro Moyano (Lince Tucuman), Matias Orlando (Huirapuca Tucuman), Javier Rojas (Universitario Tucuman), Nicolas Sanchez (Bordeaux), Joaquin Tuculet (unattached), Antonio Ahualli de Chazal (San Isidro Club), Matias Alemanno (La Tablada), Gabriel Ascárate (Natacion y Gimnasia), Rodrigo Baez (Liceo RC), Manuel Carizza (Western Stormers), Matias Cortese (Liceo RC), Tomas De la Vega (Club Universitario), Matias Diaz (Highlanders), Ramiro Herrera (Castres), Santiago Iglesias Valdez (Universitario Tucuman), Facundo Isa (Santiago Lawn Tennis), Tomas Lavanini (Hindú Club), Benjamin Macome (unattached), Julian Montoya (Club Newman), Lucas Noguera Paz (Lince Tucuman), Javier Ortega Desio (Estudiantes), Bruno Postiglioni (La Plata), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (La Plata).

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan

John O'Sullivan is an Irish Times sports writer