Hourcade backs Creevy in Bok hunt
Argentina will arrive in South African this week with a new coach and a new captain, as they look to end their drought against the Springboks.
Hourcade, who took over as coach of the Pumas in November last year, named Augustin Creevy as the new captain for the 2014 Rugby Championship.
The Pumas start their campaign against the Springboks in Pretoria on August 16.
Hourcade has dispensed with all but a handful of the 2007 World Cup semifinalists and many of the 2011 quarterfinalists.
He named a 26-man tour party that, a few hardened veterans apart, has emerged from the Pampas XV that played in South Africa's Vodacom Cup for several seasons and won this year's Pacific Rugby Cup in Australia.
Only 12 of the squad play in England or France - including former captains Juan Fernandez Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamon, a big change from previous seasons when the majority were based abroad.
The Pumas are still looking for their first win after 12 Championship matches, their best result being a draw with South Africa in Mendoza in their debut season two years ago.
That draw is also their best result in 17 previous Tests against SA, with the Boks winning the other 16 encounters.
Hourcade has said all along that his chief and realistic goal in his early years in the job is to build a team for next year's World Cup in England.
Speaking about the trip to South Africa, the coach remained optimistic, despite admitting it will tough to overcome the Boks on their home turf.
"The key will be to not let them get comfortable, tackle low and not let them play," Hourcade said, adding: "I have a lot of confidence in the team.
His optimism was echoed by Argentina's new captain.
"Our goal is for the team to play the best possible rugby and to keep growing as a team ahead of the World Cup next year," Creevy said, after Argentina beat French club Grenoble 56-22 in a warm-up in Buenos Aires at the weekend.
"We'll always go out to win."
The Pumas leave for Pretoria on Wednesday, August 6.
Argentina squad:
Backs: Joaquin Tuculet, Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Manuel Montero, Horacio Agulla, Juan Imhoff, Marcelo Bosch, Nicolas Sanchez, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Juan Martin Hernandez, Martin Landajo, Tomas Cubelli.
Forwards: Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Pablo Matera, Leonardo Senatore, Rodrigo Baez, Tomas Lavanini, Mariano Galarza, Matias Alemanno, Marcos Ayerza, Ramiro Herrera, Lucas Noguera Paz, Bruno Postiglioni, Nuhuel Tetaz Chaparro, Matias Cortese, Agustin Creevy (captain).