Phelan leaves trio out of Argentina squad for Ireland test

AFP
Argentina coach Santiago Phelan, pictured in October

LILLE, France (AFP) –

Argentina coach Santiago Phelan, pictured in October 2012, on Sunday omitted Horacio Agulla, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and Juan Figallo from his squad for the Pumas final test of their European tour against Ireland next Saturday.

Argentinian coach Santiago Phelan on Sunday omitted Horacio Agulla, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and Juan Figallo from his squad for the Pumas final test of their European tour against Ireland next Saturday.

All three played in Argentina’s disappointing 39-22 defeat by France here on Saturday with only Agulla being left out because of injury.

The wing took a heavy blow to the head in a sickening clash of heads with Maxime Mermoz during the game and had to be stretchered off suffering from concussion.

However, Phelan felt confident enough to restore star back Juan Martin Hernandez, ‘Magic man’ having recovered sufficiently from a knock he took in the 26-12 win over Six Nations Grand Slam champions Wales the previous week.

Phelan also recalled Santiago Fernandez and Maximiliano Bustos, who both play their club rugby in France for Montpellier.

Argentina are travelling to Dublin on Sunday and will have their first training session on Monday ahead of their 18th meeting with the Irish.

Squad

Marcos Ayerza, Marcelo Bosch, Maximiliano Bustos, Gonzalo Camacho, Manuel Carizza, Santiago Cordero, Agustín Creevy, Tomas Cubelli, Tomas De la Vega, Julio Farias Cabello, Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe (capt), Santiago Fernandez, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Juan Cruz Guillemain, Eusebio Guinazu, Juan Martin Hernandez, Juan Jose Imhoff, Martín Landajo, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Leonardi, Nahuel Lobo, Manuel Montero, Bruno Postiglioni, Federico Sanchez, Leonardo Senatore, Gonzalo Tiesu, Joaquin Tuculet, Tomás Vallejos, Nicolas Vergallo