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On Saturday against Italy a number of Pumas’ players reached personal milestones.
Agustín Creevy Reaches 70 Caps
Captain Agustín Creevy earned his 70th cap. The veteran hooker became the 12th Puma to reach the milestone. He is set to tie two former captains – Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Agustín Pichot this coming weekend against Ireland. Overall Creevy is third most capped front-rower. Ahead of him are Federico Mendez (73) and Mario Ledesma (84). With 12 test matches scheduled for 2018 Creevy is on track add further accomplishments to his outstanding career.
Matías Alemanno, Julián Montoya and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Reach 40 Caps
Three players reached 40 caps against Italy. Both Matías Alemanno and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro started the match. Julián Montoya entered as a replacement. All three players are products of the PladAR system and are to play their third year of Super Rugby for Los Jaguares in 2018. In all likelihood the trio will all reach the milestone of 50 test caps in 2018.
Nicolás Sánchez Moves into Second
Fly half Nicolás Sánchez is another PladAR product. Against Italy he earned his 61st cap. This makes him to 20th most capped Puma of all time. In the match Sánchez scored 13 points. It took his overall total for Los Pumas up to 599 points. He overtook none other than Hugo Porta, arguably the greatest player to have ever played for Argentina. Porta scored 590 points in his career, doing so in three decades. Top of the list is Felipe Contepomi who retired in 2013 with 651 points. Sánchez may well overtake Dr. Phil in 2018.
Joaquín Tuculet 50 and Try
Fullback Joaquín Tuculet earned his 50th cap against Italy. He became the 29th Puma in history to reach the milestone and the 7th active international player to do so. His debut came in 2012 against Italy in the June Internationals. Now into his 6th season at the top he fittingly scored a try in his 50th appearance. He is well placed to play in a second Rugby World Cup. He may also become the first Puma ever to score against all Tier 1 opponents. The one team he has not scored against is Wales. With the Welsh touring Argentina in June 2018 Tuculet may make history.
Daniel Hourcade Reaches 50
The win over Italy was the 50th match under Daniel Hourcade. He became just the third Pumas Head Coach in history to reach the milestone. He follows Marcelo Loffreda (62) and Ángel Guastella (58). Should he remain Head Coach until Japan 2019, as expected, he will overtake both Loffreda and Guastalla. Hourcade has an overall record of 15 wins and 35 losses. His first match in charge was a 31-12 defeat against England in London on November 11 2013.
