Pumas’ captain unfit for test

Press, 29 July 1989, Page 84

Pumas’ captain unfit for test

PA Wellington The Argentine rugby team will be without its injured tour captain, Marcelo Loffreda, for the second test against New Zealand at Athletic Park, Wellington, today.

The 30-year-old centre, who has a badly bruised right thigh, failed a fitness, test yesterday and was ruled out of the team’s final tour match.

Among those left out are the promising young five-eighths, Diego Dominguez and the powerful lock, Pablo Buabse. The captain for the first time is the 33-year-old scrumhalf, Daniel Baetti, who was preferred over the, touring vice-captain, Gustavo Milano, the No. 8. Baetti was in a tussle for the No. 9 jersey with Fabio Gomez, who appears to have more attacking flair but seems less reliable in defence. Gomez has been named in the reserves, along with the first test prop, Luis Molina.

jury,” he said. “But I think it is a good team, and that it will acquit itself well.”

Gallagher, who scored three tries in the first test at carisbrook, will play his first test on Athletic Park.

Mr Vidou said Mr O’Reilly’s preference of Baetti over Gomez and the non-consideration of Dominguez did not indicate the Pumas would concern themselves mostly with defensive tasks.

His place has gone to Diego Cuesta Silva, who has played in every match on tour in positions from the second fiveeighths to wing. He played on the right wing in the first test, won 60-9 by New Zealand.

The last time the All Blacks appeared at Wellington Rugby Union headquarters was during the World Cup. Their* opponents were none other than the Pumas, who were overwhelmed 46-15. That match marked the debuts of Zinzan Brooke and Bernie McCahill, who, if Jones is cleared to play, will man the reserves bench today.

“It will all depend on the situations, and what sort of ball we can win,” he said. “If it is not good, it would not be worthwhile trying to run it.” '

That berth for the second test has gone to the 20-year-old Marcelo Righentini, who will be the youngest player on the field. Loffreda was one of two injured players required to pass fitness tests.

He was confident the Pumas could reduce the deficit the second time around. “I believe we can stop them scoring as many points as they did in Dunedin, and also score more ourselves.” “We are in better shape, physically and technically, and know much more about New Zealand rugby.”

Argentina: Sebastian Salvat, Marcelo Righentini, Diego Cuesta Silva, Cristian Mendy, Fabian Turnes, Rafael Madero, Daniel Baetti (captain), Gustavo Milano, Miguel Bertranou, Alejandro lachetti, Marcelo Valesani, Pablo Garreton, Seraffin Dengra, Juan Angelillo, Diego Cash. Reserves: Luis Molina, Joaquin Uriarte, Marcos Baeck, Fabio Gomez, Matias Alien, Juan Soler Valls. New Zealand: John Gallagher, John Kirwan, Joe Stanley, Terry Wright, John Schuster, Grant Fox, Bruce Deans, Wayne Shelford (cap-’ tain), Michael Jones, Murray Pierce, Gary Whetton, Alan Whetton, Steve McDowell, Sean Fitzpatrick, Richard Loe. Reserves: Bernie McCahill, Frano Botica, Graeme Bachop, Ron Williams, Warren Gatland, Zinzan Brooke.

Diego Cash, who hooked in the first test, has been restored to prop, allowing the specialist hooker, Juan Angelillo, into the front row.

The fullback, Sebastian Salvat, who has been hampered by a variety of injuries, was passed fit to, play, ahead of Alejandro Scolni, who took the field against the All Blacks at Carisbrook. Another first test player, the flanker, Pablo Di Nisio, was ruled out of contention because of an injury to his left thigh. Two others injured in Tuesday’s match against Waikato, the utility forward, Joaquin Uriarte, and the flanker, Marcos Baeck, have been named in the reserves.

The lock Alejandro lachetti, another veteran making probably his last tour to New Zealand, comes in for Buabse, while Pablo Garreton replaces Di Nisio. The Pumas manager, Horacio Vidou, said the team named by the coach, Rodolfo O’Reilly, was the best that could be put together. “Some of our best players could not be considered because of in-

The All Blacks trained lightly yesterday morning.

The camp is confident the flanker, Michael Jones, sprigged in his left ankle on Thursday, will be fit to take the field. There will be one notable milestone reached today. The Wellington and All Black fullback, John