Americas non-World Cup XV

With all four of the Americas team rosters having been named for the Rugby World Cup, the question is who is missing? Americas Rugby News takes a look at a team made up of players from the Americas who will miss the World Cup through injury or non-selection.

1 – Nick Wallace (USA) With seven test starts over a two year period, the loosehead prop is a notable absentee from the Eagles roster. Wallace started in the win over Romania in Bucharest last November as well as the home win vs Canada in June. His try against Georgia in 2013 was the stuff of legend, but sadly his set piece is not as effective as his running.

2 – Eusebio Guiñazú (ARG) The lumpy hooker was Argentina’s first choice #2 under Santiago Phelan, but does not fit into the plans of Daniel Hourcade. Though he has enjoyed a bit of a career revival with Munster this past season, he has not had a look-in since November of 2013 and unless called as a reserve, it looks as though his test career will finish on 36 caps.

3 – Juan Figallo (ARG) Having recovered from a spinal injury, the 2011 World Cup star was set to be heavily in contention for the tighthead position for the Pumas. His dream ended prematurely when he went down in training while in Sydney shortly before the start of this year’s Rugby Championship.

4 – Rodrigo Capó Ortega (URU) Without question Uruguay’s most famous player past or present,  he played at the back of the scrum in Rugby World Cup 2003 and scored a try against Samoa. In France he is a household name, regularly appearing in XV of the week lists and he won the Top 14 title with Castres in 2013. Capó Ortega helped Los Teros qualify for the World Cup but will miss the tournament itself due to family reasons – his wife’s pregnancy.

5 – Patricio Albacete (ARG) The Toulouse giant had his international career ended in mid 2014 after a well-documented public fall-out with Daniel Hourcade. The result saw Albacete dropped permanently with Hourcade confirming he would never select Pato again. Albacete’s second-row partner from New Zealand 2011, Manuel Carizza was also surprisingly not picked for the World Cup.

6 – Todd Clever (USA) The effect of Clevergate is now clearly as strong as that of Albacete vs Hourcade. Having captained the Eagles for so long Clever was certain to play in another Rugby World Cup, but his behavior has been inexcusable in the eyes of head coach Mike Tolkin. The Eagles have plenty of options in the back row but it’s a sad end to a man who has given so much to American rugby.

7 – Tomás Lezana (ARG) Aged just 20, Lezana has already done what few can do in their careers – defeat France and South Africa in away test matches. He came off the bench to debut against Italy last November before playing 60 minutes against France in Paris. Argentina won both fixtures, as they did against South Africa in Durban, with Lezana carrying well and tackling superbly. He has nonetheless missed out on a place in Hourcade’s roster due to options at this point in time simply being strong.

8 – Benjamín Macome (ARG) A straight-running ball carrier who gains good yardage, Macome – like Lezana – has missed out by a small margin. His spot in the team has gone to Leonardo Senatore. Senatore was under pressure to perform against South Africa recently and played well enough to earn his spot, with Macome missing out despite his ability to cover second row as well.

9 – Sean White (CAN) Capped 27 times by Canada, White has missed out this time with the emergence of Gordon McRorie and Phil Mack as leading contenders. He had been expected to be in contention for the third scrumhalf spot, but head coach Kieran Crowley has instead opted for the more robust option in Jamie Mackenzie.

10 – Benjamín Urdapilleta (ARG) The 10-time capped Puma played very well for Oyonnax over the past two seasons and has started well this season for Castres. Hourcade has instead opted for the more versatile Santiago González Iglesias and Juan Pablo Socino, both capable centres as well. Should any injuries arise expect him to be given heavy consideration for a call-up.

11 – Manuel Montero (ARG) Argentina’s predictable attack under Phelan featured wingers who were unable to score tries for Los Pumas. Hourcade saw to it that this was changed with Manuel Montero and Juan Imhoff being his starting wingers and both scoring against elite opposition in the Rugby Championship. The name Montero was one to be feared at the World Cup but a knee injury has meant he will not play at all.

12 – Santiago Fernández (ARG) Another casulaty of the Phelan era is the Pau midfielder who has gone unused by Hourcade since November of 2013. Fernández has continued to perform well in the Top 14 but was not looked at, with Juan Martín Hernández instead shifted to inside centre and both González Iglesias and Socino alternatives.

13 – Gonzalo Tiesi (ARG) Similar to Fernández, Tiesi is a player unwanted by Hourcade with policy rather than injury being the motivating factor. He has received regular game time in the Aviva Premiership both before and after the Hourcade administration, but Marcelo Bosch, Jerónimo de la Fuente, and Matías Moroni have been preferred and all will play in the World Cup.

14 – Taylor Paris (CAN) The Agen flyer had a tremendous year in the French Pro D2 and was instrumental in the team winning promotion to the Top 14. Though he did not make an appearance, he was the youngest player at the 2011 World Cup and looked set to star on the world stage in 2015. Sadly he was injured in the final minute of a man-of-the-match performance against the USA in Ottawa, and will instead have to watch from the sidelines.

15 – James Pritchard (CAN) A veteran of three World Cups and Canada’s all-time record points scorer, Pritchard was on the money to play in a fourth tournament only to be left out following the Pacific Nations Cup. Matt Evans is the preferred starter at fullback, and Kieran Crowley has opted for the versatility and youth of Harry Jones instead of the experienced Pritchard as backup.