Hourcade in Japan – To Coach Pumas at RWC 2019?

Speculation over the future of Daniel Hourcade as Los Pumas Head Coach, or not, appears to be over. While an official announcement over Hourcade as coach is set to come within two months, it appears all but certain now that El Huevo will remain in charge until RWC 2019.

This week Hourcade is in Japan, inspecting the facilities that Argentina will play in during the tournament. Los Pumas, based on results following RWC 2015 tumbled down the World Rankings. This meant a disastrous draw for Los Pumas – playing in the Pool of Death.

With one win and eleven losses in the Rugby Championship since RWC 2015 combined with defeats against France, Ireland and the three British unions, Los Pumas were 9th when the seedings were confirmed for RWC 2019. As a result they were drawn with both England and France in Pool C.

Completing the Pool are the USA and Tonga. They qualified for RWC 2019 in 2017, officially doing so as Americas 1 and Oceania 2 respectively.

Argentina will face France first and England third. Both matches are to be in Tokyo. The separation of Tier 1 opponents is ideal though in facing them at these points during the pool phase there is a risk of Argentina being eliminated with one pool game remaining.

Matches against Tonga and the USA are to be in Osaka and Kumagaya, the final fixture being on a turn-around of just three rest days.

The theme of rest days was used by Argentina in explanation for their failures to win in Europe in November 2016. Matches against Wales, Scotland and England followed a match against Japan in Tokyo.  The team was deemed to not be at their peak based on the demands of four matches played over as many weekends.

Earlier in the year Argentina had beaten France and Italy once each but had also fallen to an inexplicable 27-0 defeat against Les Bleus. One year on in the 2017 June Internationals Hourcade’s team lost a shome series 2-0 to England before beating Georgia. An away win over Italy in November would be the only other win of the year.

The run of results over both 2016 and 2017 resulted in widespread calls for Hourcade to step down or, failing that, for the UAR to sack him. Now it appears set in stone that Hourcade will remain in charge, taking Los Pumas to a second RWC.

Before the RWC Argentina has a demanding list of matches, from which obtaining wins will require vast improvements. In 2018 Argentina host Wales for two tests and Scotland for one in June. The Rugby Championship will follow with the year coming to an end with the November Internationals. In Europe Argentina face Ireland, France and Scotland.