Under the Michael Cheika Radar

The July 2022 Internationals will be a fresh page for Argentina. Los Pumas will be under the command of Michael Cheika. The Australian is proven to be an excellent coach; he took Australia to the Rugby World Cup Final in 2015 and won the URC and European Champions Cup with Leinster.

Cheika worked with Mario Ledesma; yet, they are very different in terms of what they bring to Argentina. Ledesma was an insider, a man who played in four Rugby World Cups for Los Pumas and had a very long professional career abroad. Cheika’s resumé is coach-centric and he takes over as a outsider.

The last time Argentina was coached by a foreigner was in 1999. Alex Wyllie took over in time to take Argentina to the Rugby World Cup where they famously eliminated Ireland to reach the Quarter Finals for the first time.

Knowing the ins and the outs of Argentina rugby was part of Ledesma’s job. It is not part of Cheika’s. The significance of this is immense. Moreover, Cheika does not speak Spanish. His assistants, who remain unconfirmed, will provide the translation. They will also be the experts in local matters and will be responsible for working with the local authorities.

During the online press conference interview which followed his appointment, Cheika’s comments made it clear that he will be focusing on the rugby. He noted himself that he is tasked with getting the basics right to find the means in which the players and team can use their energy appropriately.

He wants the players to be hungry to play their first home test match since 2019. He is approaching this by not looking at what went wrong but by looking forward by solidifying the basics of a strong set-piece.

Player selection was also addressed with questions asked including whether Santiago Carreras is to continue at fly half and if Agustín Creevy will be back following his non-selection in 2020 and 2021. Answers given to these and other questions noted that all players will be considered. They include players from elite leagues in Europe as well as second divisions and professional rugby in general.

All Argentine rugby players are now under the Michael Cheika Radar. Confirmed is that Cheika is looking at a roster of 31 to 33 players for July. Early indications are that there will be minor rotation in July to enable rest for some players ahead of the most demanding annual competition, the Rugby Championship.

The radar is not starting from scratch; Cheika’s prior involvement gives him more than a solid platform to start analyzing the player pool. Considering his selections when in charge of the Wallabies a team is expected to be crafted that can do what he did at RWC 2015 – beat England in the pool.

Listed below are names deemed very likely to be under Cheika’s radar. They cover all positions, but vary in terms of quantity. At least one player per position is included from SLAR. This is intentional as Cheika will be watching the matches and SLAR 2020 and 2021 produced players for Los Pumas.

 

LOOSE HEAD PROP

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Ignacio Calles Pau (FR) 2 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Javier Corvalán Cafeteros Pro (CO)
Thomas Gallo Benetton (IT) 4 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Santiago García Botta Harlequins (UK) 33 2018 vs Scotland at Edinburgh
Facundo Gigena London Irish (UK) 7 2021 vs Australia at Townsville
Rodrigo Martínez Wasps (UK) 3 2021 vs France at Paris
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro Benetton (IT) 67 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth
Mayco Vivas Jaguares XV 12 2020 vs Australia at Sydney
Federico Wegrzyn Provence (FR)

HOOKER

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Bautista Bernasconi Jaguares XV
Facundo Bosch La Rochelle (FR) 12 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Agustín Creevy London Irish (UK) 89 2019 vs USA at Kumagaya
Pablo Dimcheff Mont de Marsan (FR)
Julián Montoya Leicester Tigers (UK) 75 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Santiago Socino Gloucester (UK) 4 2021 vs Australia at Townsville
Nicolás Toth Provence (FR)

TIGHT HEAD PROP

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Eduardo Bello Zebre (IT) 2 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Javier Coronel Jaguares XV
Francisco Gómez Kodela Lyon (FR) 21 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Santiago Medrano Western Force (AU) 27 2021 vs Italy at Treviso
Enrique Pieretto Glasgow Warriors (UK) 25 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Joel Sclavi La Rochelle (FR)
Lucio Sordoni Mont de Marsan (FR) 3 2020 vs New Zealand at Newcastle

SECOND-ROW

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Matías Alemanno Gloucester (UK) 73 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Rodrigo Fernández Criado Jaguares XV
Federico Gutiérrez Albi (FR)
Marcos Kremer Stade Français (FR) 44 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Tomás Lavanini Clermont (FR) 68 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Nahuel Milan Peñarol (UY)
Franco Molina Selknam (CL)
Lucas Paulos Brive (FR) 5 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Guido Petti Bordeaux (FR) 66 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Pedro Rubiolo Jaguares XV

FLANKER

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Tomás de la Vega Toronto Arrows (CA) 12 2014 vs Scotland at Córdoba
Jerónimo Gómez Vara Jaguares XV
Juan Martín González London Irish (UK) 8 2021 vs Italy at Treviso
Francisco Gorrissen Vannes (FR) 2 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Santiago Grondona Exeter Chiefs (UK) 6 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Tomás Lezana Scarlets (UK) 39 2021 vs New Zealand at Brisbane
Pablo Matera Crusaders (NZ) 80 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin

N8

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Rodrigo Bruni Vannes (FR) 14 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Facundo Isa Toulon (FR) 37 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Joaquín Oviedo Perpignan (FR) 1 2021 vs Australia at Townsville
Bautista Pedemonte Jaguares XV
Mariano Romanini Olímpia Lions (PY)

SCRUM-HALF

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Gonzalo Bertranou Dragons (UK) 37 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Tomás Cubelli Biarritz (FR) 82 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Felipe Ezcurra Grenoble (FR) 15 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth
Gonzalo García Valorugby Emilia (IT) 3 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Martín Landajo Perpignan (FR) 84 2018 vs Scotland at Edinburgh
Joaquín Pellandini Jaguares XV

FLY HALF

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Tomás Albornoz Benetton (IT)
Joaquín Díaz Bonilla Sharks (SA) 4 2019 vs South Africa at Pretoria
Patricio Fernández Perpignan (FR) 2 2013 vs Brazil at Montevideo
Julián Hernández Cafeteros Pro (CO)
Santiago Mare Jaguares XV
Domingo Miotti Glasgow Warriors (UK) 4 2021 vs Australia at Townsville
Nicolás Roger Peñarol (UY)
Nicolás Sánchez Stade Français (FR) 93 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Benjamín Urdapilleta Castres (FR) 16 2019 vs USA at Kumagaya

INSIDE CENTER

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Juan Pablo Castro Jaguares XV
Santiago Chocobares Toulouse (FR) 5 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Jerónimo de la Fuente Perpignan  (FR) 65 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Bautista Ezcurra Grenoble (FR) 5 2018 vs New Zealand at Buenos Aires
Lucas Mensa Mont de Marsan (FR) 3 2020 vs New Zealand at Newcastle

OUTSIDE CENTER

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Lucio Cinti London Irish (UK) 7 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Juan Cruz Mallía Toulouse (FR) 13 2021 vs Australia at Gold Coast
Matías Moroni Leicester Tigers (UK) 57 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Matías Orlando Newcastle Falcons (UK) 47 2021 vs Australia at Sydney
Agustín Segura Jaguares XV

WING

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Martín Bogado Jaguares XV
Sebastián Cancelliere Glasgow Warriors (UK) 7 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth
Mateo Carreras Newcastle Falcons (UK) 5 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Santiago Carreras Gloucester (UK) 19 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Santiago Cordero Bordeaux (FR) 41 2021 vs Italy at Treviso
Bautista Delguy Perpignan (FR) 22 2021 vs France at Paris
Julián Domínguez Austin Gilgronis (US)
Juan Imhoff Racing 92 (FR) 38 2021 vs Wales at Cardiff
Marcos Moneta Los Pumas 7’s
Ramiro Moyano Edinburgh (UK) 36 2020 vs New Zealand at Newcastle
Axel Müller Brive (FR)

FULLBACK

PLAYER CLUB CAPS LAST CAP
Emiliano Boffelli Edinburgh (UK) 38 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Facundo Cordero Exeter Chiefs (UK) 1 2021 vs Ireland at Dublin
Facundo Ferrario Rovigo (IT)
Ignacio Mendy Jaguares XV 1 2021 vs South Africa at Port Elizabeth
Gerónimo Prisciantelli Jaguares XV

About Paul Tait

CO-FOUNDER / EDITOR / SOUTH AMERICA ... has been covering the sport since 2007. Former player, coach, and referee. Author on web and in print. Published original works in English, Portuguese and Spanish. Ele fala português / Él habla español.

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