ARC Preview – Argentina

It’s almost here, the groundbreaking new test rugby tournament begins this Saturday. The bringing together of Rugby World Cup regulars Argentina, Canada, and the USA along with the rapidly developing Uruguay, Brazil, and Chile gives the Americas a legitimate and highly promising platform for rugby to grow throughout the region.

2015 FORM

Based on reputation alone Argentina enter the the undisputed favorite to win the Americas Rugby Championship. Los Pumas’ campaign at RWC 2015 was a roaring success due to the playing style of flair and strength demonstrated by Daniel Hourcade’s players.

Argentina finished fourth in the world and did so on the back of larger than expected victories over Georgia, Tonga, and Ireland. This was possible due to the progression of the team under Hourcade with belief and confidence having been the focal point to turn a defensive-oriented side with bullying forwards into one willing to attack from anywhere.

Exposure to the Rugby Championship was the catalyst for the evolving philosophy. It underlined to the Argentine authorities that their historical method of play required alteration if they were to be capable to winning matches. The next step is to now win consistently and Super Rugby is vital to Argentina being able to do so.

POST-RWC 2015

Los Pumas ended 2015 by returning to England for a one-off assignment, facing the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium. The match was the first of its kind due to European contracted players being deemed ineligible for international honors for the first time under the new laws.

Missing in action were some of Argentina’s most noteworthy players from the first four years of the Rugby Championship and RWC 2011. From RWC 2015, all of Horacio Agulla, Marcos Ayerza, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Juan Figallo, Mariano Galarza, Lucas González Amorosino, Juan Imhoff, and Juan Pablo Socino were gone.

Without them Argentina was not deterred and continued with the flair from the World Cup to defeat a star-studded Barbarians side 49-31 in London. The team from that day, though, is vastly different to what Argentina will field in the ARC. Of those involved only fullback Ramiro Moyano and replacement hooker Santiago Iglesias Valdez remain on the roster.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Moyano is one of three Super Rugby contracted players, Rodrigo Báez and Matías Orlando being the others. All three have been wider roster members for Los Pumas in recent years with injury set-backs harming the latter two’s opportunities. The trio will now use the ARC to work towards firstly gaining game time with Los Jaguares and thereafter with Los Pumas.

None of them ought to be considered as guaranteed to hold down a starting spot for Argentina. Facundo Bosch has been used ahead of Iglesias Valdez in the past, while both Báez and Moyano will face genuine challenges from young players who have come through the ranks with Los Pumitas u20s.

EDIT: Bosch has this morning been ruled out with injury and replaced by Gaspar Baldunciel.

At just 19 years of age, Domingo Miotti is one of two flyhalves on Pablo Bouza’s roster. The youngster is an exciting prospect who merits his place on the roster. He could cause havoc for the opposition and the prospective halves combination of Miotti outside Gonzalo Bertranou is very encouraging for the growth and depth of Argentine resources.

In the pack the 2.01m and 120Kg frame of second row Ignacio Larrague is one to watch over carefully. In his first year with Los Pumitas he started alongside Guido Petti against England and Fiji at the 2014 Under 20 World Championship. He and 2015 u20 World Championship teammate Cristian Bartoloni are highly regarded 20-year-olds. Bartoloni has not only the skills but also the height and weight requirements to succeed at test rugby.

VERDICT

Do not be fooled into thinking this Argentina will be a weak side. The team is comparable to teams that have performed well in the former ARC tournament that the Americas used to build depth ahead of November tours. Indeed, the Argentina Jaguares side was undefeated winning all games in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014. With Super Rugby now here and PladAR an unquestionable success, Argentina are surely favorites to be crowned champions in 2016.

FIXTURES

Feb 6	vs USA	Houston	19:10 CST, 22:10 ART
Feb 13	vs Chile	San Juan	18:10 ART
Feb 20	vs Uruguay	Maldonado	20:30 UYT / ART
Feb 26	vs Canada	Rosario	18:10 ART
Mar 5	vs Brazil	São José dos Campos	20:10 BRT / ART

SQUAD

NAME	POS	HGT	WGT	DOB	CAPS	CLUB
Arregui, Felipe	PR	1.89 6-2	118 260	Jun 9 1994	0	Duendes
Bartoloni, Cristian	PR	1.92 6-4	120 265	Aug 26 1995	0	Pucará
Bello, Eduardo	PR	1.90 6-3	114 250	Nov 27 1995	0	Atlético del Rosario
Brarda, Franco	PR	1.86 6-1	114 250	1994	0	Tala
Gigena, Facundo	PR	1.82 6-0	111 245	Sep 15 1994	0	Tala
Pieretto, Enrique	PR	1.89 6-2	122 270	Dec 14 1994	0	Córdoba Athletic
Tejerizo, Roberto	PR	1.78 5-10	108 240	Apr 15 1988	4	Tucumán Lawn Tennis
Baldunciel, Gaspar	HO	1.81 5-11	100 220	Dec 9 1996	0	Alumni
Calles, Ignacio	HO	1.87 6-2	107 235	Oct 24 1995	0	Liceo Naval
Iglesias Valdez, Santiago	HO	1.77 5-10	104 230	May 22 1993	11	Uni Tucumán
Zapata, Axel	HO	1.81 5-11	112 245	1994	0	S.I.T.A.S.
Calas, Ignacio	LO	2.00 6-7	120 265	Mar 18 1996	0	La Tablada
Kremer, Marcos	LO	2.00 6-7	115 255	1997	0	Atlético del Rosario
Larrague, Ignacio	LO	2.01 6-7	120 265	Oct 25 1995	0	C.A.S.I.
Ortega, Pedro	LO	1.95 6-5	105 230	Jul 30 1994	0	Universitario
Báez, Rodrigo	FL	1.91 6-3	103 225	Feb 3 1989	16	Liceo Cuyo
Bavaro, Lautaro	FL	1.88 6-2	98 215	Sep 4 1994	0	Hindú
Deheza, José	FL	1.88 6-2	100 220	Apr 12 1995	0	Jockey Córdoba
Leguizamón, Juan Manuel	FL/N8	1.90 6-3	105 230	Jun 6 1983	65	Santiago Lawn Tennis
Paulín, Gonzalo	FL	1.90 6-3	105 230	1992	0	Tala
Urtubey, Miguel	FL	1.90 6-3	106 235	Apr 6 1991	0	Newman
Montagner, Santiago	N8	1.89 6-2	100 220	Apr 18 1995	0	Alumni
Portillo, Santiago	N8	1.95 6-5	104 230	Nov 21 1995	0	Los Tarcos
Baronio, Patricio	SH	1.78 5-10	82 180	Jun 5 1996	0	Jockey Rosario
Bazán, Lautaro	SH	1.73 5-8	78 170	Feb 24 1996	0	Córdoba Athletic
Bertranou, Gonzalo	SH	1.74 5-9	72 160	Dec 31 1993	1	Los Tordos
Bollini, Marcos	SH	1.72 5-8	85 185	Aug 18 1991	0	Newman
Perotti, Mauro	SH	? ?	? ?	1996	0	Gimnasia y Tiro
Elías, Martín	FH	? ?	? ?	1996	0	Atlético del Rosario
González, Juan Cruz	FH	1.70 5-7	82 180	Oct 1 1992	0	C.U.B.A.
Miotti, Domingo	FH	1.88 6-2	85 185	May 22 1996	0	Tucumán Lawn Tennis
Novillo, Juan León	FH	1.77 5-10	86 190	Jul 8 1992	2	Tucumán R.C.
Álvarez, Santiago	CE	1.88 6-2	92 200	Feb 17 1994	3	C.A.S.I.
Cappiello, Juan	CE	1.80 5-11	93 205	Mar 4 1992	3	Pucará
Estellés, Juan Pablo	CE/WI	1.87 6-2	92 200	May 5 1988	1	Atlético del Rosario
Ezcurra, Bautista	CE/FH	1.81 5-11	88 195	Mar 15 1995	0	Hindú
Granella, Tomás	CE	1.80 5-11	85 185	Aug 11 1995	0	Liceo Cuyo
Paz, Joaquín	CE	1.81 5-11	94 205	Jan 11 1993	3	Córdoba Athletic
Carrió, Tomás	WI	1.81 5-11	87 190	Mar 10 1989	6	Duendes
Cuaranta, Franco	WI	1.76 5-9	85 185	May 23 1992	0	Tala
Delguy, Bautista	WI	1.80 5-11	75 165	Apr 22 1997	0	Pucará
Etchart, Rodrigo	WI	1.75 5-9	82 180	Jan 12 1994	0	S.I.C.
Müller, Axel	WI	1.86 6-1	90 200	Nov 25 1993	0	Marista
Orlando, Matías	WI	1.83 6-0	96 210	Nov 14 1991	10	Huirapuca
González Amorosino, Lucas	FB	1.85 6-1	93 205	Feb 11 1985	49	Pucará
Mercerat, Pedro	FB	1.79 5-10	82 180	Feb 26 1990	0	La Plata
Tuculet, Segundo	FB	1.80 5-11	86 190	Feb 5 1994	0	Los Tilos