Relative Depth on 2018 Jaguares Roster

The announced of the 2018 Jaguares roster earlier this month revealed that there are big names missing for the upcoming Super Rugby season. Yet overall 26 players from the inaugural season in 2016 remain. The team, however, ought not to be considered as settled. The reason for this is that relative depth on the roster is varied per position.

Loosehead Prop
Felipe Arregui and Santiago García Botta are the two specialist loosehead props on the roster. Both have prior experience playing in Europe and are capped by Los Pumas. They have played in prior campaigns for Los Jaguares but have lost colleagues Facundo Gigena and Lucas Noguera Paz to Europe.  Roberto Tejerizo has been released. This leaves the depth comparatively low to 2016 and 2017.

In: –
Out: Facundo Gigena (Leicester Tigers), Lucas Noguera Paz (Bath), Roberto Tejerizo (released)
Invitational: Franco Brarda, Javier Díaz

Hooker
There have been no changes at hooker. Agustín Creevy and Julián Montoya are only two players contracted with Diego Fortuny invited by Mario Ledesma earlier this month. Roberto Tejerizo was used as cover in 2017 following the departure of Facundo Bosch to France. Capped hookers Santiago Iglesias Valdez and Tomás Baravalle have left for France and Italy which has resulted in Fortuny becoming the next contender.

In: –
Out: –
Invitational: Diego Fortuny

Tighthead Prop
On the right side of the front-row the depth has been hit notably. Cristian Bartoloni and Ramiro Herrera have departed for France while Enrique Pieretto is out for the season. This leaves Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro as the only specialist fit in the position. Nicolás Leiva and Juan Pablo Zeiss were behind Eduardo Bello in 2017. Bello is now playing in Italy but expected home for the end of the Super Rugby season.

In: –
Out: Cristian Bartoloni (Charente), Ramiro Herrera (Stade Français), Enrique Pieretto (injured)
Invitational: Nicolás Leiva, Juan Pablo Zeiss

Second-Row
Matías Alemanno, Tomás Lavanini and Guido Petti are the long-established leading Pumas locks. Marcos Kremer has now joined them. They all remain at Los Jaguares. This leaves little in the way of options for others. Ignacio Larrague is now strictly with the Argentina XV while Juan Cruz Guillemaín has been released. No 8 Benjamín Macome has provided more than adequate cover in the past. Overall this is a position in which Los Jaguares have significant depth.

In: –
Out: Ignacio Larrague (Argentina XV), Juan Cruz Guillemaín (released)
Invitational: –

Flanker
Kremer’s move to flanker for Los Pumas last November was a huge success. He is joined by Tomás Lezana, Pablo Matera, Javier Desio Ortega, and Juan Manuel Leguizamón as the Jaguares’ 2018 flankers. Missing is Rodrigo Báez who opted to for release. His loss is notable having been a top performer in 2016 and 2017. Santiago Montagner has been invited and looms as a long-term prospect for franchise and country.

In: –
Out: Rodrigo Báez (released)
Invitational: Santiago Montagner

No8
Veteran Juan Manuel Leguizamón plays anywhere in the back row. Like Benjamín Macome his natural position is at No8 but both offer options. Leonardo Senatore, on the other hands, is a specialist strictly covering the one position. Tomás Lezana was used as a No8 for Argentina in 2017 and may do so in Jaguares colors this year. With Rodrigo Bruni included as an invitational player the relative depth is notable for both flanker and No8.

In: –
Out: Santiago Portillo (Argentina XV)
Invitational: Rodrigo Bruni

Scrumhalf
Gonzalo Bertranou, Martín Landajo, and Felipe Ezcurra are all back for another campaign. Depth has been added with the arrival of Tomás Cubello from the Brumbies. Also on the roster is Sebastián Cancelliere, one of the Argentina XV’s best players in 2017. Cancelliere, however, is set to play wing due to the needs of the team. All said and done Los Jaguares have tremendous depth at scrumhalf.

In: Tomás Cubelli (Brumbies), Sebastián Cancelliere (Argentina XV)
Out: –
Invitational: –

Flyhalf
No changes whatsoever have been made at flyhalf. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Juan Martín Hernández, and Nicolás Sánchez are the three specialists. Santiago González Iglesias and Bautista Ezcurra offer cover from inside centre. However with Hernández aged 35, Sánchez 29, and Díaz Bonilla 28 there are questions over there being no invitational players. Argentina XV youngsters Nicolás Cantarutti, Martín Elías, and Domingo Miotti may yet make an appearance.

In: –
Out: –
Invitational: –

Inside Centre
Jerónimo de la Fuente, Bautista Ezcurra, and Santiago González Iglesias all return. Gabriel Ascárate has been released. With Juan Martín Hernández also being an option the relative depth is solid. Their style of play is varied however with de la Fuente and Ezcurra being poles apart, the former a straight line runner and the latter a versatile playmaker. If used accordingly this can be used as a advantage for the team.

In: –
Out: Gabriel Ascárate (released)
Invitational: –

Outside Centre
Santiago Álvarez is technically a newcomer as an unused extended roster member in 2017. The Pumas sevens veteran joins Matías Moroni and Matías Orlando, the two players to have dominated selection in the 13 shirt in past Jaguares campaigns. Moroni is out until May following shoulder surgery. Santiago González Iglesias is one option to provide cover if needed. A more natural one, however, can be identified in Emiliano Boffelli. The 2017 Argentine Player of the Year was an outside centre at u20 level.

In: Santiago Álvarez (Pumas Sevens)
Out: –
Invitational: –

Wing
There are just three wingers – Emiliano Boffelli, Sebastián Cancelliere, and Ramiro Moyano. This is due to Santiago Cordero and Manuel Montero asking for release. Cordero’s destination looks to be somewhere in Europe, though the move to Leicester may not pan out as earlier indicated. Having received no game time in 2017, Nicolás Freitas has returned to Uruguay. In 2017 Bautista Ezcurra covered wing though in a makeshift capacity. All told the depth at wing is low.

In: Sebastián Cancelliere (Argentina XV)
Out: Santiago Cordero (released), Manuel Montero (released), Nicolás Freitas (Uruguay)
Invitational: –

Fullback
Fullback has been unchanged. Joaquín Tuculet remains unchallenged in the position with wingers Emiliano Boffelli and Ramiro Moyano being more than capable in the position. This paints a picture of great depth which is added to with invitational player Bautista Delguy. The 20-year-old is one of Argentina’s brightest prospects.

In: –
Out: –
Invitational: Bautista Delguy