Depleted Pumas call up amateurs

Pichot led Argentina to a great win over France

Argentina have drafted five newcomers into a predominantly-amateur squad for Saturday's Test against South Africa.

Several French clubs and Irish side Leinster refused to release their Pumas because they have European Cup matches.

So just six of the Argentina team that lost 21-19 to Ireland are available for coach Marcelo Loffreda's squad.

Despite being deprived of the whole of his first-choice front five, Loffreda can select captain Agustin Pichot, who has been cleared by Stade Francais.

The French club released Pichot and full-back Juan Martin Hernandez to play against the Springboks.

But they retained prop Rodrigo Roncero because both of their French international props Pieter de Villiers and Sylvain Marconnet are injured.

Tri-Nations champions South Africa will be short of five players, including International Rugby Board player of the year Schalk Burger, who is in the Barbarians squad to play New Zealand.

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Argentina squad:

Forwards: Santiago Artese (SIC), Marcos Ayerza (Cardenal Newman), Pablo Bouza, (Duendes), Manuel Carizza (Jockey Club Rosario), Leopoldo De Chazal (Universitario Tucuman), Martin Durand (Montpellier), Eusebio Guinazu (Mendoza RC), Federico Mendez (Mendoza RC), Lucas Ostiglia (Padova Petrarca), Augusto Petrilli (Bourgoin), Martin Schusterman (Plymouth Albion), Alberto Vernet Basualdo (Alumni)

Backs: Miguel Avramovic (Alumni), Lucas Borges (Pucara), Francisco Bosch (Hindu), Manuel Contepomi (Cardenal Newman), Juan Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), Nicolas Fernandez Miranda (Hindu), Pablo Gomez Cora (Lomas Athletic), Juan Martin Hernandez (Stade Francais), Agustin Pichot (Stade Francais, captain), Gonzalo Tiesi (SIC).