The Pumas may have a new coach after Daniel Hourcade replaced Santiago Phelan at the helm but many of the 31-man party are well known to players, coaches and fans across Wales and all of Europe.
Toulouse lock Patricio Albacete and Racing Metro duo Juan Imhoff and Juan Martin Hernandez are among the big name Argentines currently plying their trade in the Top14, with Lyon back row Juan Manuel Leguizamon playing in the PRO D2, while there are a host of others based in the Aviva Premiership.
Leicester’s Marco Ayerza and Pablo Matera are joined by new Saracens centre Marcelo Bosch, Worcester trio Agustin Creevy, Mariano Galarza and Leonardo Senatore and Bath’s Horacio Agulla, Eusebio Guinazu and Juan Pablo Orlandi, with the latter threesome all team-mates of Wales prop Paul James.
Glasgow’s Gabriel Ascarate is the sole representative from the RaboDirect PRO12 but there are a further five French-based backs in the squad in addition to the big four, as well as Super XV signings Manuel Carizza of the Stormers (lock) and Matias DÃaz from the Highalnders (tight-head prop).
Captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe won’t be involved after he broke his elbow playing for Toulon at the weekend but Hourcade isn’t short of options for a replacement skipper. Hourcade has decided to wait a little longer before announcing who will step into Lobbe’s large shoes but fellow veteran Albecte is being widely tipped to take over.
Argentina may be on a frustrating run of form following 10 straight losses but six of those came against the leading southern hemisphere lights in the recent Rugby Championship.
The 2007 Rugby World Cup finalists ran the Springboks agonizingly close in Mendoza in August before suffering a heart-breaking 14-13 defeat to the Wallabies in Perth in September.
And they beat Wales the last time they appeared at the Millennium Stadium, winning 26-12 in the opening game of last year’s Dove Men Series thanks to tries from wings Imhoff and Gonzalo Camacho.
Argentina begin their three-Test autumn tour against England at Twickenham a week on Saturday and will finish up in Italy a week after testing Welsh strength on November 16.
Argentina
Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse), Gabriel Ascarate (Glasgow Warriors), Marcos Ayerza (Leicester), Manuel Carizza (Western Province), Horacio Agulla (Bath), Agustin Creevy (Worcester), Matias DÃaz (Otago), Julio Alfredo Farias Cabello (Tucuman Racing Club), Mariano Galarza (Worcester), Eusebio Guinazu (Bath), Santiago Iglesias (Universitario de Tucuman), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Lyon), Nahuel Lobo (no club), Benjamin Macome (Tucuman RC), Pablo Matera (Leicester), Juan Pablo Orlandi (Bath), Leonardo Senatore (Worcester)
Backs: Marcelo Bosch (Saracens), Maximiliano Bustos (Montpellier), Santiago Cordero (Regatas de Bella Vista), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ahtletic), Santiago Fernandez (Bayonne), Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino (Oyonnax), Juan Imhoff (Racing Metro), Juan Martin Hernandez (Racing Metro), Martin Landajo (CA San Isidro), Tomas Lavanini (Hindu Club), Javier Rojas (Universitario de Tucuman), Nicolas Sanchez (Bordeaux-Begles), Gonzalo Tiesi (no club), Joaquin Tuculet (Bordeaux-Begles)
Wales Dove Men Series 2013 fixtures:
Wales v South Africa – Saturday, 9 November, Kick-Off 5.30pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25
Wales v Argentina – Saturday, 16 November, Kick-Off 2.30pm – £40 / £30 / £10 concession (U16) /£70 Family ticket 2 adults + 2 concession
Wales v Tonga – Friday, 22 November, Kick-Off 7.30pm – £25 / £10 concession/ £60 Family ticket 2 adult + 2 concession/ Minis/Juniors/Schools offer, with every 8 concessions purchased 2 adult tickets free
Wales v Australia – Saturday, 30 November, Kick-Off 5.00pm – £70 / £60 / £40 / £25Â
