Argentinian head coach Mario Ledesma has confirmed that the country will be using their European-based players during this year’s World Cup in Japan.
The Pumas have mostly used the players of the Jaguares team in recent years, however that has changed under Ledesma and he has made it known that he wants all his players ready for the tournament.
“It’s time to make things clear: we will not give away any more. We do not have to negotiate with European clubs on the release of internationals. When we want players, we will take them for four or five months if the need arises. If the French clubs want to continue to pay fortunes for these players, it’s their choice! And it does not matter if it falls on a championship final or a super important European Cup match,” he said.
His announcement means that they can now call upon the likes of Juan Imhoff (Racing) Santiago Cordero (Exeter), Juan Figallo (Saracens), Ramiro Herrera (Stade Francais), Mariano Galarza (Bordeaux), Facundo Isa (Toulon), Nicolás Sánchez (Stade Francais) and Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres) to bolster their team.
The news will send a message to the other members of their pool which includes England, France, Tonga and the USA. The Pumas are heading in all guns blazing and that is a worry for everyone else.
