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Props aside there is no chance of seeing a European-Based player pull on a Pumas uniform in 2018. Head Coach Daniel Hourcade and Argentina (UAR) are gambling big on Jaguares.
This reality comes following prior confirmation that European-Based players were to be selected for Los Pumas this year. With 17 losses from the past 20 matches Hourcade had failed to perform his job effectively. Indeed the 3 wins did not come in the Rugby Championship, but rather were against Georgia, Italy, and Japan.
Logic and reason had prevailed – Argentina would once again consider all athletes regardless of where they play their rugby. The names on most people’s minds were Juan Imhoff, and Facundo Isa yet digging deep reveals there are many players performing very well in Europe.
However packing Los Pumas with players from Europe is something Hourcade deems inappropriate. This is based on his own assertion that only a handful would intact be contenders to start in his team. He feels that Los Jaguares are close to being the genuine article – all but 3 are, in his view, Argentina’s best.
The conflicting view of how many of Argentina’s finest are Los Jaguares or not is a matter of subjectivity. What is clear, however, is that there are two specific contributing factors to Hourcade and Argentina again gambling on Los Jaguares for Los Pumas.
These factors are (a) the form of Los Jaguares in Super Rugby and, (b) the departure of Nicolás Sánchez to France. These two are entirely connected. With Los Jaguares now being a competitive outfit the plan is for this to continue. The belief is that there would be an exodus to Europe if selection for Los Pumas was to be opened to all players.
2018 started with Sánchez and Juan Martín Hernández as the leading Jaguares fly halves. The retirement of the latter has reduced the stocks by 50%. Yet Hourcade and Argentina are firm – Pumas fly halves this year will continue to be Argentine based.
The extent of the problem goes beyond Hernández’ exit. It is highly visible through the selections of Mario Ledesma. His roster contains Santiago González Iglesias, a veteran of 38 caps. Hourcade took him to RWC 2015 but his start was in the 13 shirt against Namibia. In 2017 his four test starts were all at inside center.
Ledesma has not used González Iglesias as a 10 and has even trained Emiliano Boffelli ahead of him as the understudy to Sánchez. Hourcade has similar ideas. He admits Boffelli as an option in telling Alejo Miranda of La Nation:
“There are a variety of players in distinct teams. There is Rete (González Iglesias), I am trying Emi Boffelli at 10, which seems to be a very good option. There is Tito (Joaquín) Dìaz Bonilla, (Domingo) Miotti who is from the system is coming back, (Juan Bautista) Daireaux is a great player and a big project.”
Five players is a healthy number of options. Yet under Hourcade only González Iglesias has a cap. Díaz Bonilla has been involved with Los Jaguares and the Argentina XV, Miotti with the latter and Daireaux is currently in France playing in the U20’s World Championship.
In all likelihood Boffelli will be the understudy to Sánchez this year. Meanwhile in France Argentina has two players of note in Benjamín Urdapilleta, and Patricio Fernández. The former was Man of the Match in both the Top 14 Semi Final and Final for 2018 Champions, Castres. The latter has long been of immense potential but, like Urdapilleta, never selected by Hourcade.
Hourcade explains the fly half considerations as:
“We have to think about ourselves, and ours are those players.”
This is the foundation of the policy in use at present as Argentina prepare to face Wales on Saturday in San Juan. It has been implemented across the team in all positions, including those with limitations such as fly half.
As such regardless os Juan Imhoff’s abilities his place in the team has been predetermined. No Argentine winger based abroad will earn a cap in 2018. The same is true of not only Fernández and Urdapilleta but also Facundo Bosch, Marcelo Bosch, Mariano Galarza, Facundo Isa, or Juan Pablo Socino. Talent and ability matter not.
This is up until a certain point. The position of prop has been identified in this regard. Hourcade said:
“We have problems. We have two props – Santiago García Botta and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro – and two others who are very young – Javier Díaz and Santiago Medrano-. Also the injured (Juan Pablo) Zeiss and we had to name Nicolás Leiva. They are out projects, we are happy with them, but they are not sufficiently prepared”.
One injury would see a European called-up. This has been revealed. Juan Figallo, Francisco Gómez Kodela, Ramiro Herrera, and Lucas Noguera Paz are those based in Europe who may earn caps in 2018.
