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Argentina must be thanked for putting their weight behind establishing the new Americas Rugby Championship, but in the same breath they are frustratingly the only side who enters the competition without full test status, choosing instead to field their second-string ‘Argentina XV’ team with their top players locked into Super Rugby.
This decision not to risk World Rugby rankings points because of domestic priorities does not sit well with fans from other nations. After all, no other team currently enjoys full access to their overseas professionals and yet all five have agreed to make the matches full internationals. First choice or not, the competition gives Argentina’s best outside of the Jaguares – and in some cases contracted Super Rugby players – an opportunity to take the next step up the ladder, or at least a bit of time in the shop window for prospective overseas employers.
2016 ARC
The favorites going into the competition did not disappoint, though they were given an almighty scare in the opening match against the Eagles in Houston with the two scrapping to a draw. Uruguay also had them on their heels but ultimately fell just short in Maldonado. Argentina used 49 players throughout, by far the most of any team, and achieved their development mandate while winning the inaugural title.
POST-ARC 2016
A more settled Argentina XV squad would compete for the remainder of the year. A clean sweet saw them lift the Sudamérica Cup and they nearly accomplished the same in the World Rugby Nations Cup, finally meeting their match against hosts Romania in the last game of the tournament. Their last stop of the year was the Americas Pacific Challenge, which saw them claim their third title of the year though it required a last-gasp converted try against Fiji in the final to get the job done.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Argentina has a plethora of young giants queuing up take a crack at the second row. Franco Molina is not at the upper echelon in terms of bulk, but he is in talent. One of the top forwards at the World Rugby u20 Championship last year, the 19-year-old from Córdoba is certain to feature in that competition again this year but first he will get a crack at senior test players in the ARC. Molina is a new breed of lock forward – a strong carrier with a high work rate and sound fundamentals.
Tomás de la Vega was at the forefront of promising forwards in Argentine rugby just a few short years ago. Strong, athletic, composed, he looked to have all the attributes of a top class back rower. Suddenly in 2014 instead of becoming a Pumas regular he opted out of international rugby for personal reasons, much to the dismay of Argentine fans. Two years on and de la Vega has declared himself fit for duty. The ARC will mark his return to international recognition.
San Luis has not had many players win international recognition, though its most famous son happens to be current Pumas skipper Agustín Creevy. With no test players emerging since the next great hope is emerging no8 Rodrigo Bruni. The 23-year-old is a typical Argentine loose forward, well rounded and solidly built, but he has explosive athleticism that has many suggesting that he will be the next to make the step up to international stardom.
There are many quality wingers available to Argentina but not many that fit the same profile as Julián Domínguez. Another product of last year’s u20 Pumitas program, the 1.89m (6’2″) physical specimen is the latest product of Pucará, a veritable factory for producing outstanding attacking backs. The combination of size, speed, and raw finishing ability has seen Domínguez hailed as a certain Puma since he was 18. His rise continues with the ARC the next step towards inevitable test recognition.
VERDICT
Once again Argentina will use this tournament as a development tool though it appears they will rein in their excessive tinkering of last year with a squad of 32 named for 2017. They again enter as clear favorites, however, and perhaps even more so than last year with several highly promising players intermixed with a handful of fringe Jaguares. With former Pumas great Felipe Contepomi in charge and a very mobile pack they will play expansive, attacking rugby that will test the fitness of every team they face. Anything other than a repeat of last year’s success will be seen as a disappointment.
