Pumas without game time in 2022 Rugby Championship

The 2022 Rugby Championship has concluded. For Argentina there were both highs and lows. In terms of players, there was no shortage of opportunities. The roster was altered for the three series. This enabled opportunities for different players; yet, there is an extensive list of of Pumas who went without game time in the tournament.

Michael Cheika did not select Facundo Bosch. Bosch was the understudy to Julián Montoya thorughout 2021 but was on the Argentina XV to tour Georgia and Portugal. He did not tour due to injury. Montoya started every test match with Agustín Creevy and Santiago Socino playing as replacements in the Rugby Championship. Ignacio Ruiz was a replacement for one test against Scotand.

Four of Mario Ledesma’s loose head props from 2021 did not play in the 2022 Rugby Championship. Ignacio Calles, and Facundo Gigena featured for the Argentina XV. The latter joined Los Pumas in Durban but did not get game time. Rodrigo Martínez missed out through injury while veteran Carlos Muzzio is now playing in the lower divisions in France.

Santiago Medrano was a regular under Ledesma. He was a regular on Cheika’s roster but did not play. Eduardo Bello and Joel Sclavi both moved ahead of Medrano to join veteran Francisco Gómez Kodela as the top three Pumas tight heads. Enrique Pieretto joined Medrano in playing for the Argentina XV. He was injured on the tour.

Second-row saw little changes. Matías Alemanno, Tomás Lavanini and Guido Petti are unchallenged for as the three specialists. Lucas Paulos was on the Rugby Championship roster for the Australian series but unused. A number of others remain uncapped who were highly impressive in SLAR.

Francisco Gorrissen and Tomás Lezana missed out on test honors in 2022. Both played for the Argentina XV, the former being the team captain. Teenager Pedro Rubiolo was on the bench against South Africa. Other young names such as Juan Martín González and Santiago Grondona are firmly established now ahead of older players.

Unlike Gorrissen and Lezana, Joaquín Oviedo was on Cheika’s roster. The Perpignan N8 is another who missed out on game time. Selection of Pablo Matera at N8 had affected the hierarchy of back-row selection and places.

Two scrum-halves from the 2021 Rugby Championship missed out altogether in 2022. Felipe Ezcurra had a 2021 start against the Springboks but has been overtaken by others since. Gonzalo García was on the initial 2022 roster but forced out through injury.

Fly half Domingo Miotti also started against South Africa in 2021. He was unwanted for duty in late 2021 and has remained out of favor since. Nicolás Sánchez started the opening match against Scotland only for it to be cut short due to injury. He was then ruled out of the Rugby Championship.

Cheika called-up center Lucas Mensa for the tour to New Zealand. He missed out on game time. Toulouse mid-fielder Santiago Chocobares had been on the first roster for the year but underwent surgery. He is unlikely to play for Argentina at all this year.

Wingers Sebastián Cancelliere, Mateo Carreras, Facundo Cordero and Ignacio Mendy all played under Ledesma in 2021. Of them Cheika only selected Mateo Carreras in 2022. He was on the roster for the matches in New Zealand but did not play.

 

RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP 2022 – ARGENTINA XV WITHOUT GAME TIME

#	PLAYER	POS	CLUB	CAPS
1	Facundo Gigena	LH	London Irish (UK)	7
2	Facundo Bosch	HO	Bayonne (FR)	12
3	Santiago Medrano	TH	Worcester Warriors (UK)	27
4	Lucas Paulos	LO	Brive (FR)	7
5	Franco Molina	LO	Selknam (CL)	–
6	Francisco Gorrissen	FL	Vannes (FR)	2
7	Tomás Lezana	FL	Scarlets (UK)	39
8	Joaquín Oviedo	N8	Perpignan (FR)	1
9	Gonzalo García	SH	Zebre (IT)	3
10	Nicolás Sánchez	SH	Stade Français (FR)	94
11	Sebastián Cancelliere	WI	Glasgow Warriors (UK)	7
12	Lucas Mensa	CE	Mont de Marsan (FR)	3
13	Santiago Chocobares	CE	Toulouse (FR)	5
14	Mateo Carreras	WI	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	5
15	Ignacio Mendy	SH	Benetton (IT)	1