Argentina name side after six players are banned

Thu, Sep 30, 2021, 10:29 PM
AAP & Staff Writer
by AAP & Staff Writer
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has spoken to media after naming his side for the final TRC match against Argentina.

The six Argentina players stuck in NSW after a border breach will remain there and miss Saturday's Rugby Championship clash with the Wallabies on the Gold Coast.

Six players, including world-class flanker Pablo Matera, and two staff members were part of a group that travelled in a bus to a Byron Bay health retreat on Wednesday.

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The contingent tried to re-enter Queensland without appropriate documentation before being forced to spend the night in Kingscliff.

Queensland Police confirmed discussions with "other agencies" for their return were ongoing.

Argentina coach Mario Ledesma said the tournament's biosecurity protocols made it impossible to defend the actions of the stranded players and staff.

"The rules were clear for everybody," he said.

"It was a day off, they made that decision and the situation is what it is.

"Now we have to think of preparing the team in the best way possible."

The players involved were Sebastian Cancelliere, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Felipe Ezcurra, Pablo Matera, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino.

Medrano and No.8 Matera, their former captain, started in the 27-8 defeat to Australia last weekend, while hooker Socino frequently comes off the bench.

Ledesma has drafted in Enrique Pieretto to replace Medrano and Rodrigo Bruni for Matera among five changes to the run-on side.

Meanwhile, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie has refused to buy into the controversy, remaining his focus on his own side

"The focus is on us," he said.

"I've obviously discussed that (Argentina players), but I think there's plenty of motivating factors for them.

"Whoever we end up in front of us, we'll deal with it on the day."

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Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) released a statement on Thursday and said the players Matera, Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, Sebastian Cancelliere, Felipe Ezcurra, Santiago Medrano and Santiago Socino and the support staff duo - were "all in perfect good health, lodged at a hotel in the area, waiting for their current condition to be solved"

"The Union is making its best efforts at the institutional level to provide assistance so as to facilitate the players' and staff members' return as soon as possible," the UAR said.

"At the same time, an internal process has been put into place in order to clarify and to determine responsibility for what has happened."

Ledesma later confirmed: "We will talk about that when the tournament is finished. Now it's time for rugby."

ARGENTINA (15-1): Juan Cruz Mallia, Matias Moroni, Lucio Cinti, Santiago Chocobares, Emiliano Boffelli, Santiago Carreras, Gonzalo Bertranou, Rodrigo Bruni, Marcos Kremer, Juan Martin Gonzalez, Tomas Lavanini, Guido Petti, Enrique Pieretto, Julian Montoya, Rodrigo Martinez

Replacements: Facundo Bosch, Thomas Gallo, Eduardo Bello, Matias Alemanno, Francisco Gorrissen, Gonzalo Garcia, Domingo Miotti, Mateo Carreras

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