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Mario Ledesma’s 31-man roster for the November Internationals has massive ramifications for RWC 2019. The dumping of Daniel Hourcade regulars Ramiro Herrera, Santiago González Iglesias, Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Leonardo Senatore means all are now officially unlikely to play in Japan 2019.
In the previous edition of World Cup Watch – Argentina Americas Rugby News noted that González Iglesias, Leguizamón and Senatore would struggle to make the cut. Herrera, however was expected to be selected and make the match day 23.
Ledesma’s decision to drop four veterans also saw Manuel Montero, Matías Osadczuk, and Lucas Paulos released from the training squad. Combined this goes a long way to outlining Ledesma’s thinking towards his roster to travel to Japan.
It is further clarified when considering who he is to take instead. Uncapped players Rodrigo Bruni, Santiago Grondona, Santiago Carreras, Lucio Sordoni, Mayco Vivas and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla all made the roster.
Their selection not only indicates their positioning compared to those left out but it is also a strong indication of which European-Based players Ledesma is ultimately planning to take with him to the World Cup.
In addition to Nicolás Sánchez who joins Stade Français next month the leading names are Facundo Bosch (Agen), Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs), Patricio Fernández (Clermont), Juan Figallo (Saracens), Mariano Galarza (Bordeaux), Francisco Goméz Kodela (Lyon), Juan Imhoff (Racing 92), Facundo Isa (Toulon), and Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres).
With two wins in the Rugby Championship it is clear that with the injection of elite talent based in Europe Argentina will have a team to compete against the best at the World Cup. Below is the projected roster based on piecing together the puzzle.
ARGENTINA
| ## | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
FIRST CHOICE
| 1 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Jaguares | LH | 50 |
| 2 | Agustín Creevy | Jaguares | HO | 80 |
| 3 | Juan Figallo | Saracens (UK) | TH | 26 |
| 4 | Guido Petti | Jaguares | LO | 42 |
| 5 | Tomás Lavanini | Jaguares | LO | 47 |
| 6 | Pablo Matera (c) | Jaguares | FL | 55 |
| 7 | Marcos Kremer | Jaguares | FL | 21 |
| 8 | Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | N8 | 25 |
| 9 | Gonzalo Bertranou | Jaguares | SH | 17 |
| 10 | Nicolás Sánchez | Stade Français (FR) | FH | 71 |
| 11 | Juan Imhoff | Racing 92 (FR) | WI | 35 |
| 12 | Jerónimo de la Fuente | Jaguares | CE | 43 |
| 13 | Matías Moroni | Jaguares | CE / WI | 37 |
| 14 | Bautista Delguy | Jaguares | WI | 8 |
| 15 | Emiliano Boffelli | Jaguares | FB | 20 |
Despite no longer being captain Agustín Creevy remains the projected starting hooker. He joins the presently injured Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Juan Figallo in the front-row. The choice of u20s players ahead of Herrera, and Enrique Pieretto strongly implies that Figallo is not only no 1 but also that Francisco Goméz Kodela is in the frame.
Javier Ortega Desio is the incumbent no 8 but Americas Rugby News nonetheless projects that Facundo Isa will start and will be a Puma again when fit. Marcos Kremer holds on to the 7 shirt with Desio Ortega continuing to occupy the bench spot.
Two changes do come in the backs. The class and form of Emiliano Boffelli at fullback this year now sees him ahead of Joaquín Tuculet. This works out well for rookie Bautista Delguy who joins Boffelli and Imhoff in the starting back-three formation.
REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Julián Montoya | Jaguares | HO | 48 |
| 17 | Santiago García Botta | Jaguares | LH | 30 |
| 18 | Francisco Goméz Kodela | Lyon (FR) | TH | 11 |
| 19 | Matías Alemanno | Jaguares | LO | 50 |
| 20 | Javier Ortega Desio | Jaguares | N8 / FL | 48 |
| 21 | Tomás Cubelli | Jaguares | SH | 67 |
| 22 | Benjamín Urdapilleta | Castres (FR) | FH | 10 |
| 23 | Joaquín Tuculet | Jaguares | FB | 51 |
Tomás Cubelli is back above Martín Landajo as the leading contender to be the replacement scrum-half. Joaquín Tuculet makes the 23 as the replacement outside back. This selection has been made baring in mind that Boffelli would be able to move to wing or outside center.
Bautista Ezcurra drops out of the 23 to now be listed as a traveling reserve, a likely choice given the dumping of González Iglesias. This means that Matías Orlando continues to be outside of the projected roster. Jerónimo de La Fuente’s start at 13 furthers this hierarchy.
The decision to take Joaquín Díaz Bonilla to Europe does not see him making the cut. Instead Benjamín Urdapilleta looms as the match finisher Argentina need in tight contests and is ideally suited to balancing the load through the pool phase. Juan Cruz Mallía is included as a traveling reserve covering fullback, wing, center and even fly half.
In the forwards Santiago Medrano has moved clear of Enrique Pieretto to be the top home based tight head so long as Tetaz Chaparro plays loose head. Facundo Bosch is the clear option if Argentina seek to take a third hooker to Japan. It is a logical selection supported by Tetaz Chaparro’s utility.
TRAVELING RESERVES
| 24 | Facundo Bosch | Agen (FR) | HO | 1 |
| 25 | Santiago Medrano | Jaguares | TH | 8 |
| 26 | Mariano Galarza | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 25 |
| 27 | Tomás Lezana | Jaguares | FL | 27 |
| 28 | Rodrigo Bruni | Jaguares | N8 | – |
| 29 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Jaguares | CE / FB | 4 |
| 30 | Bautista Ezcurra | Jaguares | CE | 5 |
| 31 | Santiago Cordero | Exeter Chiefs (UK) | WI / FB | 33 |
Ledesma’s roster for the November Internationals has just the two hookers. This is a highly strong indication of Facundo Bosch (Agen) firmly being the next-in-line. Lucas Noguera Paz (Bath), Facundo Gigena (Leicester) and Gastón Córtes (Leicester) are out of consideration for the time being as options for prop.
The absence of both Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Leonardo Senatore was predicted by Americas Rugby News. This reinforced the projection of Rodrigo Bruni and Santiago Grondona as non-traveling reserves, with the former now elevated to the roster itself.
Tomás Lezana makes the plane for Japan covering flanker ahead of Grondona with Bruni the next in line at No8. Mariano Galarza is the smart bet to travel as the second-rower outside of the match day 23.
Santiago Cordero remains above Jaguares’ wingers Ramiro Moyano and Sebastián Cancelliere. With wing being among Argentina’s strongest positions at present there is no room for Manuel Montero, a vastly more gifted player than Horacio Agulla who played in the past three RWCs for Argentina.
NON-TRAVELING RESERVES
| 32 | Diego Fortuny | Jaguares | HO | 1 |
| 33 | Javier Díaz | Jaguares | LH | 3 |
| 34 | Ramiro Herrera | Stade Français | TH | 39 |
| 35 | Lucas Paulos | Olivos | LO | – |
| 36 | Santiago Grondona | Champagnat | FL | – |
| 37 | Francisco Gorrissen | Belgrano | N8 / FL | – |
| 38 | Martín Landajo | Jaguares | SH | 83 |
| 39 | Joaquín Díaz Bonilla | Jaguares | FH | – |
| 40 | Matías Orlando | Jaguares | CE | 36 |
| 41 | Sebastián Cancelliere | Jaguares | WI / SH | 8 |
| 42 | Ramiro Moyano | Jaguares | FB / WI | 27 |
Changes to the non-traveling reserves see Ramiro Herrera listed with Enrique Pieretto now needing a strong Super Rugby campaign to have any shot at playing in Japan 2019.
Both Franco Molina and Ignacio Larrague are now behind Lucas Paulos, a player who trained ahead of them under Ledesma over the previous two weeks. Should Galarza be overlooked then Paulos is presently the best positioned to join Alemanno, Lavanini, and Petti in the RWC.
All of a sudden Santiago Grondona is not a possibility but a plausible suggestion. Francisco Gorrissen has been outstanding for Belgrano this year. This is reflected with the pair on standby for a seat on the plane.
The roster is far from being finalized though the picture is increasingly clear. Ledesma only has 13 players from RWC 2015 on his roster for the November Internationals. While this figure is low it could yet be further decreased with all players required to stand up of join González Iglesias, Herrera, Leguizamón, and Senatore on the outer.
A complete list of the Argentina’s senior player pool can be seen here.
