Rugby Championship: Two Mendoza players among those called up for the duel with the All Blacks

This Wednesday, the match between Los Pumas and the All Blacks was officially presented, which will be played on Saturday, August 16 at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium, for the first matchday of the 2025 Rugby Championship .

This will be the first time in history that Córdoba will host this duel between these two international rugby powers. A packed stadium is expected, with more than 200 accredited journalists and an estimated global television audience of 60 million viewers. For the event, the stadium has been adapted to the international standards required by World Rugby. This clash between Los Pumas and the All Blacks was officially presented this afternoon in the city of Córdoba.

For this first window of matches, which includes the second matchday, also against New Zealand, Argentina head coach Felipe Contepomi has called up 34 players, two of whom are "developmental" players. There are several notable absences, some due to injury and others due to tactical decisions.

Juan Martín González, one of the two Mendoza natives who will be "home" in Malvinas, wearing the national jersey.

UAR

Among the players called up by the Argentine coach are Mendoza natives Juan Martín González and Rodrigo Isgró. Gonzalo Bertranou was left out of the squad.

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In total there are 19 forwards, including the two youngsters, Boris Wenger and Nicolás D'Amorim, and 15 backs, among which appears Gerónimo Prisciantelli, the only one of those called up who does not have caps . Those who were not called up due to physical discomfort, according to the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) , are: Thomas Gallo, Santiago Grondona and Emiliano Boffelli, who returned last Saturday with the Duendes shirt after back surgery and suffered a slight sprain in his knee.

On the other hand, the surprise lies in the absence of key players, something that reflects the coach's preferences in trying to shape the squad for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

In addition to Matías Moroni 's exclusion, Facundo Isa is also absent. This does not imply a permanent departure, but it echoes what happened to others who were losing ground under Contepomi 's leadership despite remaining active, such as Tomás Lavanini, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Matías Alemanno, Tomás Cubelli, and Matías Orlando.

But key figures such as Marcos Kremer, Juan Cruz Mallía, Santiago Chocobares, Joaquín Oviedo, Mateo Carreras, Franco Molina, Bautista Delguy and Ignacio Ruiz reappear.

Los Pumas vs. New Zealand - Saturday, August 16 at 6:10 p.m. at the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium in Córdoba.

Los Pumas vs. New Zealand - Saturday, August 23 at 6:10 p.m. at the José Amalfitani stadium in Buenos Aires .

Australia vs. Los Pumas - Saturday, September 6 at 1:30 p.m. at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Queensland.

Australia vs. Los Pumas - Saturday, September 13 at 1 p.m. at Allianz Stadium in Sydney.

South Africa vs. Los Pumas - Saturday, September 27 at 12:10 p.m. at Hollywoodbets Kings Park in Durban.

Los Pumas vs. South Africa - Saturday, October 4 at 10 a.m. at Twickenham Stadium, England.