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Pumas recall fit Hernandez for Britain tour

Buenos Aires - Star fit-again centre Juan Martin Hernandez has been recalled by Argentina for November Tests in Wales, Scotland and England.

The four-match tour kicks off against Japan in Tokyo on November 5, but the veteran back is among five Pumas who will only join the squad in Britain.

Argentine rugby icon Hernandez is injury prone and missed Rugby Championship losses to New Zealand in Buenos Aires and Australia in London this month.

But he remains an imaginative runner and shrewd tactical kicker from the inside centre position for the 2015 Rugby World Cup semi-finalists.

Outstanding young No 8 Facundo Isa also returns after limping off against the All Blacks and missing the Wallabies Test.

A powerful runner with ball in hand, the loose forward looks set to become a future Argentine rugby superstar.

Inspirational hooker Agustin Creevy will skipper the squad, but an injury rules out first-choice loosehead prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.

Lock Tomas Lavanini is another injury-induced absentee while winger-cum-full-back Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino has fallen out of favour.

Flanker Tomas Lezana has been recalled after being overlooked for the Rugby Championship.

Coach Daniel Hourcade stressed the importance of the Japan Test in Tokyo, saying it was not just a warm-up for the British leg of the tour.

"We have a lot of respect for Japan, who have shown a good standard of play, not just at the 2015 World Cup where they shocked South Africa," he said.

"In no way is this a preparatory Test - it is a very important match that will be difficult for us to win, as will the other three.

"The northern hemisphere sides will make similar demands of us to the Rugby Championship, but with a different style.

"We already experienced that against France last June. In the two Tests, the team that imposed their game won the match.

"We must impose our game, be efficient at the breakdown without committing too many people."

Argentina have beaten Italy, France and South Africa and lost to France, South Africa, New Zealand (twice) and Australia (twice) this season.

After Japan, the Pumas play Wales on November 12 in Cardiff, Scotland on November 19 in Edinburgh and England on November 26 in London.

Argentinean squad:

Forwards:

Matias Alemanno, Facundo Bosch, Santiago Garcia Botta, Agustin Creevy (capt), Javier Ortega Desio, Facundo Gigena, Ramiro Herrera, Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Tomas Lezana, Pablo Matera, Julian Montoya, Lucas Noguera Paz, Enrique Pieretto, Pagadizabal Guido Petti, Leonardo Senatore

Backs:

Gabriel Ascarate, Santiago Cordero, Tomas Cubelli, Felipe Ezcurra, Jeronimo de la Fuente, Juan Martin Hernandez, Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, Martin Landajo, Manuel Montero, Matias Moroni, Ramiro Moyano, Matias Orlando, Nicolas Sanchez, Joaquin Tuculet

Note: Ascarate, Bosch, Ezcurra, Hernandez and Matera unavailable for Japan Test

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