Pumas leave out Hernandez

Star Argentinian back Juan Martin Hernandez failed to make the Pumas World Cup squad when it was announced by coach Santiago Phelan.

The 28-year-old - their star when they finished third in the 2007 edition in France - had been a major doubt as he tried to recover from an operation on ruptured knee ligaments in March.

Argentina, who still have several of their standouts from 2007 squad in veterans hooker Mario Ledesma and flyhalf Felipe Contepomi, begin their campaign in New Zealand on September 10 against 2003 champions England.

They go on to play Romania, Scotland and Georgia.

The Argentinians - whose squad contains only five home-based players - have two warm-up matches, against Wales on August 20 at the Millennium Stadium and then against English club side Worcester Warriors three days later.


Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse/FRA), Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers/ENG), Maximiliano Bustos (Montpellier/FRA) Alejandro Campos (Agen/FRA), Manuel Carizza (Biarritz/FRA), Agustin Creevy (Montpellier/FRA), Julio Alfredo Farias Cabello (Tucuman RC), Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Toulon/FRA), Juan Figallo (Montpellier/FRA), Mariano Galarza (Pampas XV), Alvaro Galindo (Racing Metro/FRA), Mario Ledesma (no club), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Lyon/FRA), Rodrigo Roncero (Stade Francais/FRA), Martin Scelzo (Agen/FRA), Leonardo Senatore (Gimnasia y Esgrima Rosario), Nicolas Vergallo (Toulouse/FRA).

Backs: Horacio Agulla (Leicester Tigers/ENG), Marcelo Bosch (Biarritz/FRA), Gonzalo Camacho (Exeter/ENG), Felipe Contepomi (Stade Francais/FRA), Santiago Fernandez (Montpellier/FRA), Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (Montpellier/FRA), Agustin Gosio (Club Newman), Juan Jose Imhoff (Duendes RC Rosario), Alfredo Lalanne (London Irish/ENG), Martin Rodriguez (Stade Francais/FRA) Federico Sanches (Bordeaux Begles/FRA), Gonzalo Tiesi (Stade Francais/FRA) Tomas Vallejos (Harlequins/ENG).

AFP