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Argentina’s scrum showed notable improvement this month. Against Japan, Wales, Scotland and England the Pumas were able to push back all opposition.
Unlike in the past there is not one front-row combination that is the tock of the scrum. Instead Argentina has different players with different attributes. Ramiro Herrera is a tall, solid Tight Head. His combination with Lucas Noguera Paz was effective against Japan, Scotland and England.
Herrera, though, was not able to put Wales under the same pressure. Wales’ shorter front-row was able to stand up against Herrera and outperform him. Of note is that Herrera was yellow carded late in the first half. Argentina brought on Enrique Pieretto with a flanker making way. Los Pumas won the following scrum with Pieretto proving to be decisive.
Noguera Paz missed much of international competition this year. He suffered a serious injury in Super Rugby which limited his 2016 involvement for Argentine teams. Daniel Hourcade used Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro as his Loose Head in place of Noguera Paz. It was effective in the Rugby Championship.
