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The draw for France 2023 will take place later this year. With this confirmed, Argentina have 12 tests matches to rise in the rankings for the RWC 2023 draw. A failure to do so will all but certainly mean an unfavorable draw, comparable to that from RWC 2019, Argentina’s worst RWC in the professional era.
Despite France having been selected for it big market opportunities, World Rugby will not be delaying the draw. Instead, the pool will be known after this year’s November Internationals.
Argentina join Australia, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, and Wales as the pre-qualified teams for RWC 2023. They are automatic qualifiers due to finishing in the top three of their respective pools from RWC 2019.
The eight remaining places will be determined in RWC qualifiers. With the process to continue well beyond November 2020, the draw will be made with regional qualifiers competing the remaining eight spots. World Rugby is yet to finalize the process, although in the Americas the ARCh and ARC will double as qualifying events.
World Rugby’s announcement noted that the final rankings that will determine the seedings for RWC 2023 are to be made on November 23. This gives the twelve pre-qualified teams ten months of international competition.
Argentina is presently ranked 10th in the world. This means that Los Pumas must win matches to complete the goal of rising two spots or more this year. A failure to do so would see Argentina in Band 3, and thus a complicated RWC 2023 campaign.
At present the three bands are as follows:
| BAND 1 | BAND 2 | BAND 3 |
| South Africa | Ireland | Scotland |
| New Zealand | Australia | Argentina |
| England | France | Fiji |
| Wales | Japan | Italy |
Argentina’s pathway to moving out of Band 3 is to win in the July Internationals, Rugby Championship and November Internationals. The scheduling for 2020 is not ideal due to Los Pumas not having a match against any of Fiji, Japan, or Georgia.
Los Pumas will face France twice, and Italy once in July. While they are home matches, they are to be the first games since RWC 2019. The Europeans are to play in the Six Nations Championship, starting this coming weekend.
Wins in the Rugby Championship are always very challenging, but this year they are more important than in most years. The November Internationals will see Los Pumas touring England, Wales, and Scotland. The British tour is not ideal with a match away to Italy, being a prime opportunity to rise in the rankings for the RWC 2023 draw.
Due to the complicated nature of the international season, Argentina will need to call-upon all resources. This will mean the selection of the top players, regardless of whether they are based in Argentina or abroad.
