Argentina Dream Team of the Decade

The upcoming 2018 November Internationals are to begin the 11th year of international competition for Los Pumas since Rugby World Cup 2007. With that tournament carrying so much importance in producing structural change for Argentina it is appropriate to piece together an Argentina Dream Team of the Decade.

1 – Rodrigo Roncero Feared and respected throughout France, Rodrigo Roncero was an excellent loosehead. His scrum skills, ball-carrying and defense were second to none. So good was he that even aged 35 he was keeping Marcos Ayerza on the Pumas bench. Ayerza is commonly considered as the best loosehead to have played in England throughout the same period. He dominated opposition scrums in the Rugby Championship.

Next best: Marcos Ayerza

2 – Mario Ledesma Arguably the best hooker at RWC 2007, Ledesma retained his position until retirement four years later. His all-around game was extremely reliable and respected the world-over. In France he appeared in a host of finals and went on to win the Top 14 in 2010. Agustín Creevy was the natural replacement though had to wait until 2014 with Eusebio Guiñazú preferred from 2012-2013.

Next best: Agustín Creevy

3 – Juan Figallo Quickly thrust into Los Pumas was Juan Figallo. His rapid rise was as a tighthead though in France Montpellier used him at loosehead. In the final test before RWC2011 he started ahead of Martín Scelzo against Wales and produced a standout performance. He would then be named the player of the pool at the RWC. In the Rugby Championship he was consistently the leading tighthead in 2012 and 2013. Injuries complicated his career but upon a return to fitness and playing regularly in 2016 he has shone once again.

Next best: Martín Scelzo

4 – Tomás Lavanini The physical dominance that Tomás Lavanini brings is revered by many. His ball-carrying is outstanding, his tackling is ferocious and his set-piece play is top-shelf material. He was a standout performer at Rugby World Cup 2015 and in the lead up to that tournament including 2014. Disciplinary concerns are actively being dealt to. If sorted out he may well be able to be considered among the best in the world in 2018.

Next best: Manuel Carizza

5 – Patricio Albacete The best Pumas forward from 2008-2011 was Patricio Albacete. His work-rate was exceptional as was his technique and fitness. At Rugby World Cup 2011 he was equally as important to his team as he had been in 2007. Personal issues between him and Daniel Hourcade ended his test career prematurely. His legacy, though, cannot be questioned. He is, without doubt, the best second-rower Argentina has ever produced.

Next best: Rimas Alvarez Kairellis

6 – Pablo Matera Lucas Ostiglia played his final test at RWC2007. Martín Durand remained for one more year. Between then and the arrival of Pablo Matera there were many flankers. These included Alejandro Abadie, Alejandro Campos, Julio Farías Cabello, Genaro Fessia, Alvaro Galindo and Tomás Leonardí. Pablo Matera surpasses all of them with daylight to spare. The outstanding ball-carrier that is Matera is lethal and his game in general places him among the true great Pumas flankers.

Next best: Martín Durand (2008)

7 – Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe This position picks itself. Corcho Fernández Lobbe had an excellent World Cup in 2007 and was just as phenomenal in 2015. His leadership saw him captaining not only his country but also Toulon and the Sale Sharks. As a player there were few who could match his skill-set as a fetcher, ball-carrier, defender, line-out jumper and observer. Being a constant at the point of action saw him regularly talked about by neutrals as being among the best players of his generation.

Next best: Juan Manuel Leguizamón

8 – Facundo Isa A range of players have featured at the back of the scrum, many of whom have also been flankers. Some would argue Corcho as having been the best no 8 since RWC 2007 but his value at flanker is, arguably, superior. Specialist no 8’s to have stood out can be narrowed down to Leonardo Senatore and Facundo Isa. Both were used at Rugby World Cup 2015 and were strong performers. In 2016 Isa was Argentina’s player of the year. His power is what places him above Senatore.

Next best: Leonardo Senatore

9 – Tomás Cubelli Agustín Pichot retired from international duty following the World Cup. Argentina Nicolás Vergallo, Agustín Figuerola and Alfredo Lalanne were the next generation. They would be shuffled until 2011 but in 2012 Martín Landajo would become first choice. Since then it has been Landajo and Tomás Cubelli playing constantly. Injury to Cubelli in 2017 saw Gonzalo Bertranou emerge and performing well. Cubelli’s aggressive play in a tight contest and more accurate passing make him the better option for the Dream Team than Landajo.

Next best: Martín Landajo

10 – Juan Martín Hernández El Mago has to be in the team, the question is in which position – fly half, inside center or fullback? He was the best fly half of RWC 2007. From there he went on to star in a 2009 home win over England only to fall to knee and back injuries which saw him miss RWC 2011. Felipe Contepomi moved from center as required with Santiago Fernández going on to start against Scotland and New Zealand in RWC 2011. Hernández would move around under Santiago Phelan and Daniel Hourcade. Notably as a 10 he took Argentina to the historic win over South Africa in Durban in 2015 as well as multiple wins away to Italy.

Next best: Nicolás Sánchez

11 – Juan Imhoff Generations of Pumas wingers were defensive orientated. Their positional excellence counted for more than finishing abilities. Juan Imhoff was a breath of fresh air to change this for his country. Taking over from Horacio Agulla he went on to score far more tries than Agulla and even became the first player ever to score a hat-trick against South Africa. His speed and lines make him one of the most dangerous attacking weapons Argentina has ever produced. Lucas González Amorosino will likely be remembered as a player not used well by his coaches yet it was his sensational try against Scotland which prevented an early exit from RWC 2011.

Next best: Lucas González Amorosino

12 – Felipe Contepomi World Rugby Hall of Famer, Felipe Contepomi is an all-time great. He is without question the greatest inside center from Argentina and also among the top fly halves produced from the country. The player that dazzled France in 2007 would nor retire until 2013 at the age of 36. He was Argentina’s leading back from 2008-2011 and saved his country on multiple times. A true fighter and inspiration.

Next best: Juan Martín Hernández

13 – Marcelo Bosch Bosch played outside center for his country just once before Rugby World Cup 2011. He would then be thrust into the position with Gonzalo Tiesi injured during the first match of the campaign. He performed above expectations and truly converted into a world-class outside center. Four years later he was a stand-out and this was also true for the 2012-2014 period. Without him Argentina have struggled in the position since 2015.

Next best: Gonzalo Tiesi

14 – Santiago Cordero A star of the u20’s, Santiago Cordero exploded at RWC 2015. He and Juan Imhoff gave Argentina genuine deadly finishers. They were extremely dangerous finishers and scored some of Argentina’s greatest ever tries in World Cups. Cordero scored tries against all opposition in the 2016 Rugby Championship and subsequently scored his country’s best try of the year against England. His place in the team came with Gonzalo Camacho’s injury ultimately ending his career. Camacho had been Argentina’s best winger from 2009-2013.

Next best: Gonzalo Camacho

15 – Joaquín Tuculet Unopposed at fullback since November 2013, Joaquín Tuculet has made the fullback position his own. In doing so he has filled the void left by Ignacio Corleto, the star performer at the back for Los Pumas in France 2007. In between Corleto and Tuculet there were a number of players used. They included wingers Horacio Agulla and Lucas González Amorosino as well as Juan Martín Hernández. Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga also played inside center but was mainly a Pumas fullback. Prior to disappearing from the team he had played quality rugby at the back for Argentina from 2010-2012.

Next best: Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga