Argentina’s captain Lisandro Aribizu is likely to be ruled out of the Rugby World Cup 2003.
The four time Rugby World Cup veteran has sustained a major knee injury and confirmation is expected from coach Marcelo Loffreda in the next 24 hours that Aribizu will not play in the Tounament.
The most capped player in the Argentine team, the leadership and 87 test matches of experience at inside centre were crucial to the Puma's campaign.
However, official medical results will likely report that serious cruciate ligament damage, sustained in a Pumas training match against local province Tucuman, will sideline the 31 year old for no less than six months.
The probable replacement for Aribizu will be Martin Gaitan, who will play against Rosario on Friday.
Who will be the new captain is more difficult to predict however, with both Agustín Pichot and Gonzalo Longo both having led their country when Aribizu was unavailable in the past.
Coach Loffreda has said that he will not rush the captaincy decision but has assured the rugby world that they will know in the coming weeks who the new leader for the Pumas will be.