Argentina’s European XV

Felipe Ezcurra’s move to Leicester means that there are now again Argentine players across all positions at the elite level in Europe. This was the case in all years between RWCs 2003 and 2015 but this ended with the creation of Los Jaguares.

With Ezcurra at Leicester there are legitimate contenders for Los Pumas in all positions. Realistically he is Argentina’s 4th choice scrum-half. Ahead of him are Gonzalo Bertranou, Tomás Cubelli, and Martín Landajo. How then does this compare to other positions?

Confirmed
With Ledesma having used three European-based tight head props in the Rugby Championship quite clearly the position is lacking authority at Los Jaguares. Indeed the leading Jaguar in the position, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro has moved to loose head.

It can be concluded that Juan Figallo (Saracens), and Ramiro Herrera (Stade Français) are the top two tight head options with Santiago Medrano (Jaguares) being third choice ahead of Gastón Cortés (Leicester). It remains to be seen whether the return to fitness of Enrique Pieretto (Jaguares) may see this altered.

Also confirmed is Facundo Bosch as Argentina’s third choice hooker. He was flown to Mendoza from France, making his test debut in the final minutes against South Africa. Captain Agustín Creevy and Julián Montoya are above him. Fourth choice is contestable. Diego Fortuny is third choice at Jaguares though a strong argument exists for Santiago Socino (Newcastle) and Tomás Baravalle (Benetton Treviso) to be above him.

Undetermined
The Rugby Championship showed that Los Pumas’ scrum is far from being where it needs to be. Mario Ledesma is an expert and has 11 months to repair the damaged vessel. This may yet require additional tight head involvement from Europe. Francisco Gómez Kodela (Lyon) is without question among the best players in the position in France today.

The involvement of Goméz Kodela is, of course, undetermined. His last cap was under Santiago Phelan. Yet his abilities and Argentina’s needs combine to make him a player that must be in consideration.

For the remaining positions there has been no undeniable evidence confirming players for international duty. All will be considered for RWC 2019 and there will be more than just tight head props and hookers involved from Europe.

Argentina has a clear shortage at loose head. The search continues for a specialist of note in the position with Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro set to continue playing in the position and Santiago García Botta is projected to be second choice. Though Lucas Noguera Paz (Bath) is genuinely in the frame.

Ledesma has no shortage of second-rowers. Tomás Lavanini and Guido Petti are the firm starting players with Matías Alemanno the replacement. Marcos Kremer is next in line though he has cemented himself at flanker. Cover exists at home though with little time available Mariano Galarza (Bordeaux) and Manuel Carizza (Lyon) are the unofficial covering players.

Kremer, Pablo Matera, Tomás Lezana, and Javier Ortega Desio are all excellent flankers. From Europe the leading two are Guido Volpi (Ospreys) and Martín Chiappesoni (Colomiers).

Unlike at flanker there is a No8 in Europe who is a legitimate contender for a place in Los Pumas. Facundo Isa (Toulon) is the first choice Argentine in his position. Until he is both fit and available Ortega Desio will be used in the position.

Benjamin Urdapilleta (Castres) and Patricio Fernández (Clermont) are the unofficial second and third choice Argentine fly halves. Nicolás Sánchez (Stade Français) joins them in the Top 14 in December.

Marcelo Bosch (Saracens) and Juan Pablo Socino (Edinburgh) went to RWC 2015 and there is no shortage of calls for both to play again in Japan 2019. They would be the mid-field combination for a European Argentina XV if assembled.

Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs) and Juan Imhoff (Racing 92) were the starting wingers for Argentina at RWC 2015. They would be the combination for a European side of Argentine players with fullback arguably seeing Patricio Fernández playing there as he has done from time to time.

With seven months still to play in Europe there is ample opportunity for Argentina’s European-Based players. For the time being a composite XV may be as demonstrated in the following table. It is based on the assumption that all would be released and that all were fit.

1	Lucas Noguera Paz	Bath (UK)	LH	43
2	Facundo Bosch	Agen (FR)	HO	1
3	Juan Figallo	Saracens (UK)	TH	26
4	Manuel Carizza	Lyon (FR)	LO	46
5	Mariana Galarza	Bordeaux (FR)	LO	25
6	Guido Volpi	Ospreys (UK)	FL	–
7	Martín Chiappesoni	Colomiers (FR)	FL	2
8	Facundo Isa	Toulon (FR)	N8	25
9	Felipe Ezcurra	Leicester Tigers (UK)	SH	2
10	Benjamín Urdapilleta	Castres (FR)	FH	10
11	Juan Imhoff	Racing 92 (FR)	WI	35
12	Juan Pablo Socino	Edinburgh (UK)	CE	4
13	Marcelo Bosch	Saracens (UK)	CE	39
14	Santiago Cordero	Exeter Chiefs (UK)	WI	33
15	Patricio Fernández	Clermont (FR)	FH	2