Rugby:Argentina have recalled former Harlequins and Stade Francais centre Gonzalo Tiesi ahead of their tour to Europe next month. The Pumas will play Ireland at the Aviva stadium on Saturday, November 24th.
Tiesi last turned out for the Pumas in the 2011 World Cup but his tournament was ended prematurely due to injury. He missed the Rugby Championship but after impressing for his team the San Isidro Club, coach Santiago Phelan has opted to bring the centre back into the mix.
The injured Martin Rodriguez and the retired Rodrigo Roncero will not tour but there is a strong Aviva Premiership contingent in the mix with Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), Horacio Agulla (Bath) and Gonzalo Camacho (Exeter Chiefs) all included.
Argentina open up their tour against Wales on November 10th before facing France a week later and they finish their three-Test series against Ireland. Phelan has called on his side to push on from their time in the inaugural Rugby Championship where despite failing to win a game, they received widespread praise for their performances.
“We face the challenge of three more demanding matches, on tour playing as visitors. We have to keep growing as we did in the Rugby Championship albeit against other rivals... and I’m keen to do it well.”
Argentina are currently ranked eighth in the world standings, one place behind Ireland. The top eight sides after the November test series will be seeded for the 2015 World Cup draw.
Argentina squad:Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon, captain), Leonardo Senatore (Gimnasia Rosario), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Lyon), Tomas Leonardi (SIC), Julio Farias Cabello (Tucuman), Tomas de la Vega (CUBA), Patricio Albacete (Toulouse), Manuel Carizza (Jockey Club Rosario), Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers), Agustin Creevy (Montpellier), Juan Figallo (Montpellier), Eusebio Guinazu (unaffiliated), Bruno Postiglioni (La Plata), Francisco Gomez Codela (Biarritz), Joaquin Tuculet (Grenoble), Santiago Cordero (Regatas Bella Vista), Horacio Agulla (Bath), Juan Jose Imhoff (Racing Metro), Manuel Montero (Pucara), Gonzalo Camacho (Exeter), Marcelo Bosch (Biarritz), Gonzalo Tiesi (SIC), Juan Martin Hernandez (Racing Metro), Nicolas Sanchez (Bordeaux-Begles), Nicolas Vergallo (Toulouse), Martin Landajo (CASI), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Athletic)
