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The UAR President has hinted at selecting European players for Los Pumas. The official policy is under serious questioning now. With those based in Europe blocked from international duty Argentina has experienced a run of negative results since Rugby World Cup 2015.
Head Coach Daniel Hourcade has firmly stood his ground over the policy. Yet with Los Jaguares failing to be contenders in Super Rugby and Los Pumas losing 11 consecutive matches against Tier 1 opposition, the calls for change are strong.
Earlier in the week I suggested that there are presently 8 players in Europe who would be selected for the Rugby Championship if available.
Hourcade himself made the declaration last week that he wishes Juan Figallo was in the team. The Saracens prop has not played for Argentina since Rugby World Cup 2015. Without Marcos Ayerza the scrum has suffered, being particularly exposed by South Africa in Port Elizabeth.
Other positions have come under fire, including fly half where Nicolás Sánchez and Juan Martín Hernández have given Hourcade an unsolvable problem. Alternatives to them to exist but are not in Argentina. Patricio Fernández being the leading contender.
At No 8 neither Leonardo Senatore nor Juan Manuel Leguizamón impressed against South Africa. Both lacked the go-forward in attack that Argentina traditionally has from the position. Furthermore they looked past their best. In France the much younger Facundo Isa has started strongly for Toulon.
As the above, and additional instances, suggest selecting European-based players for Los Pumas would positively contribute to the level of the team. Without a win in the four remaining Rugby Championship matches the policy will struggle to survive.
Change is not inevitable but UAR President Carlos Araujo explained that if Hourcade wants one or more from Europe he can get them. Indeed, Araujo hinted at change this week, telling reporters:
“It is impossible for the European clubs to release Argentine players for the 12 games that Los Pumas play in the year. If 4 months before the World Cup Hourcade tells us that, for example the wings or props that we have won’t make it to the event for distinctive reasons, then we will call-up an Imhoff or a Figallo to cite a few names”.
“Now then in training a prop, we will monitor his progress and as he is contracted to the UAR, playing in the system and could make it to the World Cup then we will not call-up Figallo”.
Argentina need their best players to help them bring in results. Both Hourcade and Araujo are now on record admitting that the status quo is not ideal. Watch this space.
