The Americas Missing XV

There are a variety of players who for one reason or another are missing from international duty this month. The following is an offering of the leading players who are not to play test rugby in June. Not considered for this composite XV are players who have officially announced their retirement. Such names include Horacio Agulla, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Chris Wyles.

1 – Juan Figallo (Saracens) Capable of playing both sides of the scrum, Figallo would be a Puma if eligible. The policy of blocking foreign-based players resulted in some players returning home but not everyone. Figallo remains a regular for the best team in Europe and has English and European titles to his name.

2 – Facundo Bosch (Agen) There are a number of missing Americas hookers in Europe right now, mainly below the premier divisions. The 2017-2018 Top 14 season will see Facundo Bosch playing for Agen. His decision to leave Los Jaguares saw the team’s resources dwindle  with Roberto Tejerizo even switching from prop to hooker. Ironically Bosch signed for Agen in search of greater game time.

3 – Francisco Goméz Kodela (Lyon) Arguably playing the best rugby of his career is Francisco Goméz Kodela. The Tight Head prop was among the best in the scrum all season in France. If the UAR did not block foreign-based players from international duty then Gómez Kodela would be pushing the Pumas 3 shirt.

4 – Manuel Carizza (Racing 92) Another season of many matches has concluded for the Rosario lock. Carizza was again a regular for Racing 92 in both the Champions Cup and Top 14. In the prior season he won the French title, doing so in Barcelona, Spain. UAR policy saw Javier Ortega Desio, a flanker, starting against France in Carizza’s position 12 months ago. Mariano Galarza is another to have played a lot this season though Carizza arguably was the better of the two.

5 – Jamie Cudmore (Oyonnax) Has he retired? Is he going to in fact play for Canada in the RWC qualifiers this month? These two questions remain unanswered. Cudmore had a solid season in France with Oyonnax, helping the team back to the Top 14. Another in limbo retirement is Rodrigo Capó Ortega who declined playing in RWC 2015 for family reasons. He continues to play top level rugby for Castres.

6 – Samu Manoa (Toulon) The USA Enforcer is currently sidelined through injury. He has been plagued with knocks since Rugby World Cup 2015 and needs the time off to fully mend. Upon his return he will all but surely be back into the Toulon starting lineup, ready to unleash his ferocious tackling. The Eagles will have to wait until November for Manoa.

7 – Sebastián Kalm (Old Blue) Missing from the USA roster is Sebastian Kalm. The outstanding flanker remains uncapped but this will likely not last long. He is not yet eligible to play for the Eagles but this will have changed prior to the November Internationals. The former Chilean u20’s player has committed to being an Eagle and it is only a matter of time before he is capped. His dream of playing in a Rugby World Cup looms as not only realistic but entirely achievable.

8 – Facundo Isa (Toulon) The best No 8 from the Americas will not play this month. Facundo Isa left Argentina in January, signing for Toulon. His contract begins next month. With him leaving the UAR closed the door on him, effectively kicking him out of Los Jaguares. Lyon happily signed him to complete the 2016-2017 season. At Lyon Isa played great rugby. Los Pumas really cannot afford to lose players of his caliber. Isa is to return to Argentina in June 2019, in time for Japan 2019 consideration.

9 – Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies) Injured in a warm-up match, Tomás Cubelli has missed the entirety of his second Super Rugby season at Canberra. The Belgrano scrum-half is now into his final stages of rehabilitation and is expected to be fit in time for the Rugby Championship. Without him Daniel Hourcade has the uncapped Gonzalo Bertranou in training and veteran Martín Landajo.

10 – Patricio Fernández (Clermont) Daniel Hourcade determined that England 2015 was too soon for Fernández and so took utility players instead. Two years on and Fernández is the hottest Argentine fly half outside of Super Rugby. If eligible he would surely be playing test rugby this month. Instead he is contracted with French champions, Clermont, until 2020. Remarkably Santiago González Iglesias starting at fly half vs Australia last year. He is the fourth choice Jaguares 10 at present.

11 – Juan Imhoff (Racing 92) Currently out of action through injury is Juan Imhoff. The Rosario flier is expected back in time for the start of the 2017-2018 season. Already a French champion with Racing 92, Imhoff is a player many would like to see in Super Rugby and subsequently back in Pumas colors. Having just turned 29 he will be 31 come Japan 2019. Horacio Agulla started the 2015 Bronze Final at the same age for Argentina.

12 – Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle Falcons) The midfielder’s name appeared in Dream Team’s for the 2016-2017 Aviva Premiership. It was acknowledgement of just how underrated he is. Hourcade gave him his debut in 2015 and took him to the Rugby World Cup. Following the tournament Socino admitted his Pumas days were all but over. His decision to remain at Newcastle means he will remain capped 4 times. Most Pumas making Dream Team’s have many, many more.

13 – Marcelo Bosch (Saracens) From Biarritz to Saracens saw the stock of Marcelo Bosch well and truly rise. Biarritz had Bosch in his natural position of fly half until they needed an emergency fullback. Bosch filled-in and subsequently converted to outside center. The transition proved to be shrewd. It saw him becoming the first choice Pumas 13 in 2011 and retaining the spot until his 39th and final cap in 2015. He is now a multiple time English and European Champion with Saracens and there is no doubt that he would be in Hourcade’s roster if available.

14 – Jeff Hassler (Ospreys) The 2016-2017 season was ruined by injury for Jeff Hassler. The Canadian flier missed all of Canada’s 2016 matches through injury and is out this month too. Hassler’s 2016-2017 season was short. He was injured in October playing against the Cardiff Blues. The achilles injury required surgery and has kept him sidelined until today. He previously also required both shoulder and knee reconstructions.

15 – Blaine Scully (Cardiff Blues) The Eagles are without Blaine Scully this month. The Californian is sidelined through injury. It is a huge loss for the North Americans yet there is no place in the roster for Taku Ngwenya. Usually a winger for the Cardiff Blues, Scully is competent at the back too. Presently utility Mike Te’o is the one player deemed a fullback on the roster. If fit Scully would be wearing 15 this month for his country.