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Matías Orlando is out for the season. Following a busy 2019, wherein Orlando was the starting outside center for Los Jaguares and Los Pumas, the workload came with a cost for the Tucumán mid-fielder. The 28-year-old has undergone reconstruction surgery on his right shoulder and will require four to five months of recovery.
Orlando was a replacement in the Super Rugby season opener against the Lions. Starting in the position was Matías Moroni, Orlando’s understudy in 2019. The operation will now change the role of both players and also require player management from Gonzalo Quesada.
In 2019 the regular mid-field was 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente, 13 Matías Orlando. Against the Lions Quesada started Juan Cruz Mallía at inside center. It was a change from 2019 wherein he had been used at fullback, although he started at outside center against the USA at RWC 2019.
Also involved in RWC 2019 was Lucas Mensa. He and Juan Pablo Castro are both a member of Los Jaguares and Los Ceibos, Argentina’s SLAR team. With Orlando out of action it is likely that Mensa will now return to Los Jaguares.
For this weekend’s home Super Rugby match against the Hurricanes, de la Fuente and Santiago Chocobares have both been training at inside center. The latter will make his debut should he feature in Saturday’s fixture.
With an eye to RWC 2023, Argentina do not have time for experimentation. They need to improve on their world rankings position this year or they will be in for a tough draw for the France hosted Rugby World Cup.
Orlando now faces an uphill battle to be in the frame for the July Internationals against France (20) and Italy. His operation implies that Moroni and Mallía are now the front-runners to wear the 13 shirt for these matches.
