Argentine side hit by injury to prop

By DAVID LEGGAT

Argentina's hopes for an injury-free tour of New Zealand have been punctured even before they kick a ball in anger.

Prop Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino flew home yesterday after damaging knee ligaments during training. His replacement, Pablo Cardinale, is expected to join the squad before their match against Thames Valley in Paeroa on Tuesday.

The tourists have picked a solid pack for their opening match against Counties Manukau at Pukekohe tomorrow as they prepare for the test against the All Blacks next Saturday.

Hard men Roberto Grau and Federico Mendez are in the front row, along with former Wellington representative Omar Hassan. Their likely test locks, Alejandro Allub and Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, get a run, while test halfback Agustin Pichot will organise behind the scrum.

Counties are without three first-choice forwards. Kristian Ormsby is with the New Zealand Colts, Hare Makiri is with the Maori squad, and Koula Tukino has a bicep injury.

Coach Andrew Talaimanu wants his players to grab a rare opportunity to show what they can do against international opposition. The last time Counties played Argentina, in 1979, the home side won 18-11.

Argentina: Bernardo Stortoni, Gonzalo Camardon, Jose Orengo, Lisandro Arbizu (capt), Diego Albanese, Felipe Contepomi, Agustin Pichot, Gonzalo Longo, Ronaldo Martin, Santiago Phelan, Alejandro Allub, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Omar Hassan, Federico Mendez, Roberto Grau. Reserves: Facundo Soler, Gonzalo Quesada, Nicolas Fernandez Miranda, Martin Durand, Lucas Ostiglia, Mauricio Reggiardo, Mario Ledesma.

Counties: Loki Crichton, Patrick Petelo, Mark Lawson, Peter Epati, David Wood, Blair Feeney, Danny Lee (capt), George Stowers, Wayne McEntee, Fraser Duncan, Jason Frost, Ramon Lindsay, Joseph Lao, Grant Henson, Dave Stewart. Res: Niva Tauuso, Casey Laulala, Gus Leger, John Akurangi, Junior Lemalu, Luke Mealamu, Robert Afoa Peterson.