More Choices for Los Pumas as Players Return to form and to the Field

The early rounds of the French Top 14 and Pro D2 see more choices for Argentine selectors. Players have returned to form and to the field and there is reason to suggest that some may be called-up for international duty before the year’s end.

Fly half Domingo Miotti scored 13 points in round two and 17 points in round three. The round three match was this past weekend with Montpellier upsetting Toulouse. Miotti kicked three penalties and converted four tries. El Tucumano also put in a kick that led to a try.

Miotti is into his second season at Montpellier. The 29-year-old has five test caps for Argentine but is yet to earn a call-up by Felipe Contepomi. If his form continues then this may change for Los Pumas’s November test matches against England, Scotland and Wales.

Efraín Elías was a replacement for Toulouse against Montpellier. He played 50 minutes in his comeback following a long injury. Elías was injured playing against Castres in round 22 of the 2024-2025 Top 14 season in April.

The 21-year-old from Córdoba captained Los Pumitas in the 2024 World Rugby u20 Championship. He also made his test debut for Argentina in 2024. His dream debut saw him having a try assist for Agustín Creevy in Los Pumas’ win over the All Blacks in the Wellington, New Zealand in the 2024 Rugby Championship.

El Cordobés is now into his second season playing for Toulouse. If the second-rower can impress for the reigning Top 14 champions then he will boost his chances of a call-up for the November Internationals. Felipe Contepomi has given second-rowers few opportunities so far in 2025. Only three have received game time in the first four rounds of the Rugby Championship while veterans Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini have not been named on a roster all year.

Juan Bautista Pedemonte was a Pumas rookie in 2024. He debuted against France in the July Internationals and earned a second cap later on in the year against Italy. He missed out on the 2025 July Internationals due to injury but is now back to fitness again for Vannes.

This past weekend Pedemonte started for Vannes who were 40-7 winners over Provence. The Argentine flanker played 70 minutes He was joined by former Pumas tight head Santiago Medrano but the team’s captain, Argentine Francisco Gorrissen, did not play. He suffered a fracture in the previous round against Mont de Marsan.

Gorrissen and Medrano are yet to earn test caps under Contepomi. Like Miotti, Gorrissen and Medrano debuted under Mario Ledesma but were overtaken by others including when Michael Cheika was in charge. Pedemonte debuted in Contepomi’s first test match in charge.