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BUENOS AIRES - Halfback Agustin Pichot will lead Argentina in his fourth rugby World Cup after being named as captain in the 30-man squad announced by coach Marcelo Loffreda for the tournament starting in September in France.
Pichot, who turns 33 next month, is the sole surviving Puma from the 1995 tournament in South Africa where he was a reserve.
Other core members of Loffreda's squad, including back Felipe Contepomi and forwards Gonzalo Longo, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Mario Ledesma and Omar Hasan, have two World Cups under their belts.
Among players going to their second World Cup, versatile Stade Francais back Juan Martin Hernandez stands out. A second string player in Australia in 2003, he could turn out for the Pumas at fullback or first five-eighths in the tournament.
The Pumas play in the tournament's opening match for the third time in a row, meeting the hosts at the Stade de France on September 7 in a Group D game.
Argentina, bidding to reach the quarterfinals for the second time, will also meet Georgia, Namibia and Ireland.
Their match against the Irish on September 30 is a potential group decider. The Pumas upset Ireland in 1999 to reach the last eight for the first time, the Irish gaining revenge with victory in their group decider in Australia four years ago.
Squad:
Backs: Ignacio Corleto, Horacio Agulla, Juan Martin Hernandez, Federico Serra, Lucas Borges, Jose Nunez Piossek, Manuel Contepomi, Gonzalo Tiesi, Martin Gaitan, Felipe Contepomi, Federico Todeschini, Agustin Pichot (captain), Nicolas Fernandez Miranda
Forwards: Gonzalo Longo, Martin Durand, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Martin Schusterman, Lucas Ostiglia, Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe, Rimas Alvarez, Esteban Lozada, Patricio Albacete, Omar Hasan, Rodrigo Roncero, Martin Scelzo, Marcos Ayerza, Mario Ledesma, Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Santiago Gonzalez Bonorino.
- REUTERS
