World Cup Watch – Argentina – August 16, 2018

The top-ranked team in the Americas remains Argentina. Despite the advances of the Eagles in recent months, Los Pumas are realistically the only Americas team likely to challenge for a Quarter Final spot at the 2019 World Cup. This may seem an unreasonable expectation given their extremely poor record since RWC 2015, however the major impediments to their success – namely coaching and selection policy – are nearly resolved.

Mario Ledesma has replaced Daniel Hourcade as Head Coach and has already begun to call players from Europe. Juan Figallo and Facundo Bosch have joined the Rugby Championship squad while Nicolas Sanchez is set to move to France following the tournament’s completion and his future clubmate Ramiro Herrera is also understood to have been contacted by Ledesma.

The difficulty in assessing the standings of each player is a result of those recent changes. Ledesma’s preferences are not the same as Hourcade’s, and it’s unclear to what extent the Pumas will utilise their European contingent. While Ledesma has indicated that he will prefer locally-based players for now, it seems beyond reason to exclude world class players like Juan Imhoff and Facundo Isa for the World Cup.

For that reason it’s fair to say that the below list is by some distance the most likely to change between now and Japan 2019. In fact there could be dramatic changes to the current projected traveling roster, unlike that of Uruguay and the USA. The following rankings are as they stand and do not take into account the likely additions in the next 10-12 months.

 

ARGENTINA

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NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

 

FIRST CHOICE

1	Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro	Jaguares	LH / TH	44
2	Agustín Creevy (c)	Jaguares	HO	74
3	Juan Figallo	Saracens (UK)	TH	24
4	Guido Petti	Jaguares	LO	36
5	Tomás Lavanini	Jaguares	LO	41
6	Pablo Matera	Jaguares	FL	49
7	Marcos Kremer	Jaguares	FL / LO	15
8	Javier Ortega Desio	Jaguares	N8 / FL	42
9	Gonzalo Bertranou	Jaguares	SH	11
10	Nicolás Sánchez	Stade Français (FR)	FH	65
11	Emiliano Boffelli	Jaguares	WI / FB	14
12	Jerónimo de la Fuente	Jaguares	CE	38
13	Matías Orlando	Jaguares	CE	34
14	Bautista Delguy	Jaguares	WI	3
15	Joaquín Tuculet	Jaguares	FB	51

With the immediate recall of Juan Figallo this now looks to be a near full-strength forward pack with the exception of Isa at No8. His inclusion would likely see Javier Ortega Desio shifted to the bench, though young Marcos Kremer could also be the one relegated to reserve status. Lucas Noguera Paz is a strong bet to return at loosehead prop, but if Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro performs well in the position during the Rugby Championship it would solidify his spot as the starting option.

Ledesma has also made a swift change at scrumhalf where Gonzalo Bertranou has usurped Martín Landajo. Given the form of Bertranou it looks unlikely that Landajo will regain his spot, though Tomás Cubelli – currently third choice – cannot be ruled out as a contender. The midfield is to be decided with contenders such as Bautista Ezcurra, Matías Moroni, and England-based Marcelo Bosch.

Out wide there are strong cases to be made for the recall of both Santiago Cordero and Imhoff. Bautista Delguy has, for the time being, forced his way into the starting role but only just, and the more experienced Ramiro Moyano is equally capable of winning the right wing spot.

 

REPLACEMENTS

16	Julián Montoya	Jaguares	HO	44
17	Santiago García Botta	Jaguares	LH	25
18	Ramiro Herrera	Stade Français (FR)	TH	37
19	Matías Alemanno	Jaguares	LO	44
20	Tomás Lezana	Jaguares	FL / N8	24
21	Martín Landajo	Jaguares	SH	81
22	Santiago González Iglesias	Jaguares	CE / FH	41
23	Ramiro Moyano	Jaguares	WI / FB	22

Herrera has yet to be officially added to the group but there have been discussions about his release with his club side, hence his inclusion. Landajo’s spot is under considerable threat by Cubelli and, as above, the outside backs are flexible pending the possible recalls of Cordero and Imhoff.

By far the most concerning position in the squad is that of reserve flyhalf. Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias is not likely to challenge for a starting role and it is only his versatility that sees him named in the No22 shirt. Other options currently in the squad are Bautista Ezcurra and Juan Cruz Mallía, the latter comfortable in the midfield or at fullback and most recently being trialed as a flyhalf in training though he has yet to see game time in the position in any meaningful capacity.

Two preferable options are currently in France. The left-footed Benjamín Urdapilleta is one of the most consistent performers in the Top 10 and his experience would seem ideal to travel as an alternative for Nicolás Sánchez. The other is Patricio Fernández, a player of considerable potential at Clermont Auvergne. He can play flyhalf or fullback and has the size to play in the midfield as well.

 

TRAVELING RESERVES

24	Diego Fortuny	Jaguares	HO	–
25	Javier Díaz	Jaguares	LH	3
26	Santiago Medrano	Jaguares	TH	3
27	Ignacio Larrague	CASI	LO	–
28	Juan Manuel Leguizamón	Jaguares	N8 / FL	82
29	Tomás Cubelli	Jaguares	SH	63
30	Joaquín Díaz Bonilla	Jaguares	FH	–
31	Matías Moroni	Jaguares	CE / WI	31

The arrival of Facundo Bosch to the squad puts immediate pressure on Diego Fortuny as the third-choice hooker, if not Julián Montoya as well. Bosch has also performed well as a flanker in the Top 14, an attribute that is desirable in a World Cup with roster limitations. His inclusion would allow Ledesma to choose two specialist props outside of the match day 23, a strategy he is likely to prefer regardless though it may be a risk with three specialist hookers.

Ignacio Larrague is one of two uncapped second rows who are in contention along with the younger Franco Molina. The ability of Kremer to play lock could see another loose forward instead named, while the vastly more experienced Mariano Galarza – currently at Gloucester – is another who could merit strong consideration for the World Cup.

It remains to be seen whether Juan Manuel Leguizamón will continue in the squad for another year. He will be 36 next June and is finding it increasingly difficult to make the match day squad. While his presence in the squad would be valuable, the addition of Isa would almost certainly push him out while there are domestic contenders in Rodrigo Bruni and Santiago Montagner.

As above, the position of Díaz Bonilla as specialist backup to Sánchez at flyhalf is far from assured. Challengers from others within Argentina are also likely with Domingo Miotti, Tomás Granella, and Juan Bautista Daireaux particularly notable.

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES

32	Facundo Bosch	Agen (FR)	HO	–
33	Felipe Arregui	Jaguares	LH	1
34	Enrique Pieretto	Jaguares	TH	23
35	Franco Molina	Jockey Córdoba	LO	–
36	Santiago Grondona	Champagnat	FL	–
37	Rodrigo Bruni	San Luis	N8 / FL	–
38	Felipe Ezcurra	Jaguares	SH	2
39	Domingo Miotti	Tucumán Lawn Tennis	FH	–
40	Bautista Ezcurra	Jaguares	CE / WI	1
41	Sebastián Cancelliere	Jaguares	WI / SH	3
42	Juan Cruz Mallía	Jaguares	FB / CE	1

Here we see some considerable gaps in experience, a reflection both of strong players overseas but also the emergence of young talent in the Pumas depth charts. Enrique Pieretto could very well slide up when fit again but the competition for tighthead prop at the domestic level is high with few genuine standouts, prompting Ledesma to cast his eye to Figallo, Herrera, and Francisco Gomez Kódela for RWC 2019.

Santiago Grondona has been called into the training squad directly from the Pumitas u20 program, leapfrogging many Argentina XV standouts such as Francisco Gorrissen and Lautaro Bavaro. Santiago Montagner is another on the cusp of Pumas selection. Guido Volpi is a new signing for Ospreys and could be targeted should he impress in his first season in a top flight European competition.

Bautista Ezcurra, Sebastian Cancelliere, and Juan Cruz Mallia are all highly rated by Ledesma and could well force their way into the traveling squad ahead of next year. Manuel Montero is another seemingly forgotten man who is desperate to return to Pumas contention. Finding the right mix of ambitious youngsters and high quality veterans will be key to forming a potent backline leading into the World Cup.

 

A complete list of the Argentina’s senior player pool can be seen here.