Introducing the touring team

Press, 21 July 1989, Page 19

Introducing the touring team

Pen pictures of the touring Argentina rugby team, with age, club and international appearances shown in parentheses are:— Forwards

Diego Cash (27, San Isidro Club, 19). Married. Relatively small but tough tighthead prop with considerable international experience, including 1987 World Cup. Has also played as hooker, for Pumas, 1986 tour of Australia.

Serafin Dengra (27, San Martin, 19). Manages own gym, single. Solid loosehead prop and among fastest in squad, including backs. Was in 1987 World Cup side. Luis Molina (30, Tucuman Lawn Tennis Club, 1). Prop getting first recall since 1987 World Cup. Adrian Rocca (Buenos Aires Cricket and Rugby Club, none). Prop. Juan Jose Angelillo (26, San Isidro Club, 4). Businessman, single. Specialist hooker who has filled a gap Pumas were at times forced to fill with a prop. Ricardo Le Fort (C.A. Tucuman, none). Hooker, good at throw ins.

Alejandro lachetti (32, Hindu Club, 17). Businessman, married. Big, beefy lock, at two metres tallest member of squad, useful jumper in line. One of only three members of squad who toured New Zealand in 1979.

Was not picked when All Blacks visited Argentina in 1985, but made comeback against Wallabies in late 1987. Pablo Buabse (Los Tarcos of Tucuman, 1). Lock. Member of tough pack of Argentine provincial champions Tucuman province who were banned from staging home matches for a year after a violent clash with Wayne Shelford’s touring Maoris late last year. Marcelo Valesani (Rosario Athletic Club, 2). Lock. Only previous international experience on 1986 tour of Australia, where he played in second test.

Gustavo Milano (28, Rosario Jockey Club, 23). Physical Education teacher, married. Number eight or lock. Sorted out last minute work problems to be able to travel. Vital as jumper at back of line and one of Argentina’s most experienced and forceful forwards. Rare speciality is kicking left footed touch finders from tight angles on right side of field. In 1987 World Cup side.

Jose Simes (El Tala of Cordoba, none). Lock. Joaquin Uriarte (26, Club Universitario, 1). Third row forward capped in second test against Wallabies in Australia in 1986. Pablo Di Nisio (Banco Nacion, 1). Flanker. Pablo Garreton (23, Club Universitario de Tucuman, 7). Student, single. Tough tackling flanker, best of several squad members from Argentine champions Tucuman province, who have won the national title three times since 1985, breaking Buenos Aires’ hegemony. A regular since late 1987.

Miguel Bertranou (Los Tordos of Mendoza, 1). Flanker. Member of squad that toured France late last year.

Marcos Baeck (Club Teque of Mendoza, none). Number eight.

Backs Daniel Baetti (33, Rosario

Athletic Club, 8). Doctor, married. First choice scrumhalf. Recalled to face. France in June, 1988, after long absence from international rugby. Superbly replaced Porta as kicker and was hero of second test triumph. Missed tour of France later in 1988 through injury. Won five caps in early 1980 s at fullback. Fabio Gomez (23, Banco Nacion, 2). Talented scrumhalf, genius one day, errorprone next. Recalled after disappointing 1987 World Cup. Federico Silvestre (Mendoza Rugby Club, none). Scrum-half. Rafael Madero (30, San Isidro Club, 35). Engineer, married. Fly-half or centre, where he played during 1979 tour of New Zealand. Solid veteran, most capped player in squad, sound in defence but lacking creativity in attack. Has also played at full back. Member of 1987 World Cup squad. Diego Dominguez (La Tablada of Cordoba, none). Flyhalf of promise. Seen as natural successor to Porta. Gained first international experience during last year's tour of France.

Fabian Turnes (24, Banco Nacion, 18). Bank employee, single. Inside centre nicknamed “Portita” (little Porta) when he appeared alongside Porta in his club side as a teenager. Well built, strong,

though relatively slow back. A regular since the early 1980 s and member of 1987 World Cup side. Pablo Garzon (El Tala of Cordoba, none). Tough tackling centre who was in French tour squad last year. Matias Allen (C.A. San Isidro, none). Centre. Brother of former Pumas’ captain Jorge Allen. Marcelo Loffreda (30, San Isidro Club, 30). Engineer, married. Now captaining side after Jorge Allen’s withdrawal because of injury. Veteran outside centre who toured New Zealand in 1979. Was dropped from World Cup squad in 1987, but recalled by coach, Rodolfo O’Reilly, for his temperament and sound defence. Main fault is not passing ball out to wing more often. Diego Cuesta Silva (26, San Isidro Club, 18). Outside centre, arguably Argentina’s best attacking back, who has been played on wing in recent tests. Powerful, fast runner. Member of 1987 World Cup side. With Alien, Cash and Turnes only member of tour squad who faced All Blacks in Beunos Aires in 1985. Cristian Mendy (21, Los Tilos, 7). Student, single. Wing, fast and elusive and sound in defence. Made his debut against the Wallabies at home in the first test in 1987.

Marcelo Righentini (San Fernando, none). Fast wing who has shone this season for his second division .club. Alejandro Scolni (27, Asociacion Alumni, 8). Student, single. Fullback or wing, sound in defence, fast breaking into attack. Missed tour of France late last year and most of local season so far through injury, but recovered in time to travel to New Zealand. Juan Soler (Tucuman Lawn Tennis Club, none). Fullback who was first picked for last year’s tour of France. Coach — Rodolfo O’Reilly (48, C.A. San Isidro). Charismatic, former government sports secretary, of Irish descent, in his second spell in front of Pumas. Recalled after the 1987 World Cup debacle, he restored Pumas pride by guiding a team full of experienced veterans to series victory against touring Australians. Only Argentine coach to notch up victories abroad, against Wallabies in first test in 1983 and a year earlier, with Pumas disguised as South American XV (Jaguars), in second test against South Africa.