Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Yesterday saw Juan Manuel Leguizamón adding a win in Australia to his impressive test career resume. In 82 test caps he has been in winning teams to record memorable Pumas results both and home and abroad. All told he is Argentina’s first player to win away games against England, France, South Africa, and Australia.
Argentina’s most notable accomplishments in the professional era were making the Semi Finals of RWCs 2007 and 2015. Leguizamón was involved in both campaigns and it started under enormous pressure.
Vice captain to Agustín Pichot in RWC 2007 was Gonzalo Longo. The then Clermont no 8 was injured playing for Argentina again Belgium in a warm-up match. This saw Leguizamón starting at the back of the scrum and playing very well.
Argentina’s 17-12 win over France tore up the script for RWC 2007 and saw Argentina famously marching on to an inaugural Semi Final. Legiuzamón would feature in the wins over Georgia, Namibia, Scotland and the Bronze Final.
Eight years on he would play less in the RWC with his match against Georgia being his strongest showing. In between these tournaments he was a vital member of the squad which reached the Quarter Finals. He would play in the wins over Romania, Scotland, and Georgia.
Saturday’s victory over Australia on the Gold Coast saw the latest box ticked in what has been a highly impressive test career. Leguizamón’s resume includes wins over all test match opposition except for New Zealand.
The elusive win over the All Blacks is something no Puma has ever claimed. At least this is the case when considering Argentine players playing for Los Pumas. There have been Pumas who went on to play for Australia who have defeated New Zealand – Topo Rodríguez and Patricio Noriega. Both were Pumas and subsequently Wallabies.
Leguizamón made his test debut in April 2015 against Japan. The fixture was a warm-up for Argentina’s match against the British & Irish Lions. With Longo and, an estimated, 25 others unavailable Leguizamón would start for his country. The result was a miraculous 25-25 draw.
As the saying goes the rest is history. Leguizamón went on to play in Europe and remained there until returning to become a Jaguar in 2016. He would also be a mainstay for Los Pumas, constantly in the roster from 2005-2018.
Over the years Leguizamón has won away to all opponents aside from two – New Zealand and Ireland. He has claimed away wins in the Rugby Championship, November Internationals and RWCs.
He was, curiously, not involved in Argentina’s 2007 or 2015 wins over Ireland. He would however play in Los Pumas’ home wins over the Irish in Buenos Aires and Santa Fé in 2007.
Before then he had away wins against England, Italy and Scotland. While since then he has added Japan, South Africa, Wales and now Australia to his list.
| YEAR | RESULT | VENUE |
| 2005 | British & Irish Lions 25-25 Argentina | Cardiff, Wal |
| 2005 | Scotland 19-23 Argentina | Edinburgh, Sco |
| 2005 | Italy 22-39 Argentina | Genoa, Ita |
| 2006 | England 18-25 Argentina | London, Eng |
| 2006 | Italy 16-23 Argentina | Rome, Ita |
| 2007 | France 12-17 Argentina | Paris, Fra |
| 2007 | Georgia 3-33 Argentina | Lyon, Fra |
| 2007 | Namibia 3-63 Argentina | Marseille, Fra |
| 2007 | Scotland 13-19 Argentina | Paris, Fra |
| 2007 | France 10-34 Argentina | Paris, Fra |
| 2011 | Romania 8-43 Argentina | Invercargill, NZ |
| 2011 | Scotland 12-13 Argentina | Wellington, NZ |
| 2011 | Georgia 7-25 Argentina | Palmerston North, NZ |
| 2012 | Wales 12-26 Argentina | Cardiff, Wal |
| 2013 | Italy 14-19 Argentina | Rome, Ita |
| 2015 | South Africa 25-37 Argentina | Durban, SAF |
| 2015 | Georgia 9-54 Argentina | Gloucester, Eng |
| 2016 | Japan 20-54 Argentina | Tokyo, Jap |
| 2017 | Italy 15-31 Argentina | Florence, Ita |
| 2018 | Australia 19-23 Argentina | Gold Coast, Aus |
