World Cup Watch – Argentina – One Year Out

Rugby World Cup 2019 will kick off one year from today and the rebuilding of Los Pumas has begun. Replacing Raúl Pérez at the helm of the Jaguares was the first step, the second was the promotion of Mario Ledesma to Head Coach on Daniel Hourcade’s departure. Gonzalo Quesada has taken over the Jaguares and Argentina now have their ideal coaching setup that also includes former World Cup participants Nicolás Fernández Miranda, Martín Gaitán, and Pablo Bouza.

With the staff sorted the next issue is personnel. Ledesma has immediately reached out to the European pros and while only front rowers have thus far been called, more are certain to follow ahead of Japan. Nicolás Sánchez will move to Paris following the November tour and world class players in Facundo Isa and Juan Imhoff cannot be ignored. Argentina must beat at least one of England or France to make the Quarter Finals, and they cannot achieve that with Jaguares alone.

Much of the squad is predictable but there are still important questions to be answered about the squad makeup. Who will start at outside center? Which of the outside backs will miss out? Do they take six props or only five? Perhaps the most important of all – who will back-up Sánchez at flyhalf?

An historic Rugby Championship campaign has restored a significant measure of confidence in the side. Clarity in selection is headed in the right direction, and the last 12 months will be about fine tuning and making the final decisions on the last four or five spots that require debate. Here we take a slight departure from our typical ‘World Cup Watch’ approach, instead we look at who we think is most likely to travel next September.

 

ARGENTINA

##

NAME

CLUB

POS

CAPS

 

FIRST CHOICE

1	Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro	Jaguares	LH	48
2	Agustín Creevy (c)	Jaguares	HO	78
3	Juan Figallo	Saracens (UK)	TH	26
4	Guido Petti	Jaguares	LO	40
5	Tomás Lavanini	Jaguares	LO	45
6	Pablo Matera	Jaguares	FL	53
7	Marcos Kremer	Jaguares	FL	19
8	Facundo Isa	Toulon (FR)	N8	25
9	Gonzalo Bertranou	Jaguares	SH	14
10	Nicolás Sánchez	Stade Français (FR)	FH	69
11	Juan Imhoff	Racing 92 (FR)	WI	35
12	Jerónimo de la Fuente	Jaguares	CE	41
13	Matías Moroni	Jaguares	CE / WI	35
14	Emiliano Boffelli	Jaguares	WI / FB	18
15	Joaquín Tuculet	Jaguares	FB	51

Ledesma’s tenure has immediately seen changes with the return of the Europeans in the front row the most significant. Juan Figallo and Ramiro Herrera are immediately back in the reckoning and it would be a surprise to see either left out. Loosehead prop is in slightly better condition but only because of the versatility of Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, himself more comfortable on the tighthead side.

Javier Ortega Desio has enjoyed a career resurgence at No8 that has secured his spot on the plane, but the starting role remains one that Facundo Isa can reclaim once recovered from injury. His powerful running game will be needed in Japan. The question then moves to the No7 shirt where Marcos Kremer currently occupies the blindside flanker role. His physicality in defense is very useful but the agility and lineout presence of Ortega Desio may be preferable. Whatever the decision the other is certain to be in the match day squad.

Scrumhalf now seems settled with Gonzalo Bertranou leap-frogging his elders Martín Landajo and Tomás Cubelli. It was telling that Landajo did not enter the game at all against Australia. Bertranou is the clear winner. Sanchez is nailed on at 10 and it seems de la Fuente will not be shifted at 12.

In truth the midfield is a slight concern. There is strength in depth but the majority are very similar players, with few standing out from the crowd. There are no 100kg (220lbs) plus line breakers of sufficient quality available, and while Jerónimo de la Fuente is not ‘small’ by any means he is of typical proportions at international level.

Outside him Matías Moroni has taken advantage of Matías Orlando’s injury to claim the 13 shirt. He is unquestionably talented but question remains of his defense and lack of physicality. Marcelo Bosch is a veteran option but nearing his 35th birthday it seems more likely he would be on standby. A potential bolter is Juan Ignacio Brex, the 26-year-old at Benetton Treviso whose powerful physique offers something different but he too is battling injury and will have to show superior form to get a look-in.

The outside backs are a conundrum, but in a good way. There is unprecedented strength in depth available to Ledesma. A half-dozen players are of starting quality and others beyond would not do a disservice to the team. The main question seems to be whether Joaquín Tuculet will return to the height of his powers. His experience and leadership will be highly valued but his selection must be beyond reproach as Emiliano Boffelli grows in stature with every game.

A wildcard might be Boffelli in the midfield. It’s a selection yet to be seen at senior international level but one that seems a natural fit not only to accommodate the many outside back stars available but also to take advantage of Boffelli’s physique. With a little more muscle added he could become top class in the No13 shirt in a short amount of time.

 

REPLACEMENTS

16	Julián Montoya	Jaguares	HO	46
17	Santiago García Botta	Jaguares	LH	29
18	Ramiro Herrera	Stade Français (FR)	TH	37
19	Matías Alemanno	Jaguares	LO	48
20	Javier Ortega Desio	Jaguares	N8 / FL	46
21	Martín Landajo	Jaguares	SH	83
22	Benjamín Urdapilleta	Castres (FR)	FH	10
23	Bautista Ezcurra	Jaguares	CE	4

Given the above much of the match day replacements are obvious. Landajo and Cubelli will duel for the reserve scrumhalf spot with the main discussions centering around the midfield and outside back reserve positions. More recently Ledesma has opted for utility players but approaching a World Cup contest with no backup for Sánchez is exceedingly risky.

The issue is exacerbated with the only capped alternative in Argentina being Santiago González Iglesias, a player largely utilized by Hourcade but headed to the exit door under Ledesma. He is also best known as an inside center and best suited for inside back cover on the bench. Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, meanwhile, is fast approaching his 29th birthday and has yet to win a single test cap.

Two clear alternatives are in France in Benjamín Urdapilleta and Patricio Fernández. The former is a similar player to Sanchez and led Castres to a Top 14 title this past season. His inclusion seems the most likely with Fernández on standby, a player of undoubted potential but in need of greater momentum.

The other back reserve spot is up for debate but it will need to be a player who can cover the midfield. Bautista Ezcurra has been a regular bench option of late with his playmaking ability and versatility highly useful. Though most comfortable in the midfield he can cover across the three-quarter line and is more creative on attack than Orlando.

 

TRAVELING RESERVES

24	Facundo Bosch	Agen (FR)	HO	1
25	Santiago Medrano	Jaguares	TH	6
26	Mariano Galarza	Gloucester (UK)	LO	25
27	Tomás Lezana	Jaguares	FL	27
28	Rodrigo Bruni	Jaguares	N8	–
29	Juan Cruz Mallía	Jaguares	CE / FB	4
30	Bautista Delguy	Jaguares	WI	7
31	Santiago Cordero	Exeter Chiefs (UK)	WI / FB	33

The third hooker spot is almost certainly destined for Facundo Bosch now that he has – at long last – made his test debut. His ability to play flanker, where he has been recently playing for Agen, further underlines his value over Diego Fortuny. A sixth prop is an option but with both Figallo able to cover loosehead in an emergency it seems more likely an extra specialist back row will travel, which opens the door for the uncapped Rodrigo Bruni.

Of note is the absence of both Juan Manuel Leguizamon and Leonardo Senatore. Both have enjoyed wonderful international careers for Los Pumas and remain in the training squad today but appear highly unlikely to continue through to the World Cup. Tomás Lezana is a certainty with Bruni the next in line at No8. There are a multitude of young options for the fourth lock spot but Mariano Galarza’s experience and lineout ability make him a clear winner.

Again much discussion surrounds the reserve backs. Juan Cruz Mallía has risen rapidly from the Pumitas to senior level and is highly rated by the staff. He has primarily been a center or fullback but has recently been training as a flyhalf as well and should be seen as emergency third choice cover. That versatility sees his inclusion over the significantly more experienced Orlando, whose best chance for selection looks to be as first choice at No13.

Bautista Delguy has thus far lived up to his billing as potentially world class and can pack his bags now. The last spot will take up some time at the selection table. Will they opt for a third scrumhalf, Landajo or Cubelli, or take another outside back? At RWC 2015 it was Santiago Cordero who was seen as the emergency halfback, and he could well reprise that role in 2019. The other option is Sebastián Cancelliere, already a proven performer at both scrumhalf and on the wing. That versatility could well see him get the nod with Cordero left as injury cover.

 

 

NON-TRAVELING RESERVES

32	Diego Fortuny	Jaguares	HO	1
33	Javier Díaz	Jaguares	LH	3
34	Enrique Pieretto	Jaguares	TH	23
35	Franco Molina	Jockey Córdoba	LO	–
36	Santiago Grondona	Champagnat	FL	–
37	Francisco Gorrissen	Belgrano	N8 / FL	–
38	Tomás Cubelli	Jaguares	SH	65
39	Joaquín Díaz Bonilla	Jaguares	FH	–
40	Matías Orlando	Jaguares	CE	34
41	Sebastián Cancelliere	Jaguares	WI / SH	3
42	Ramiro Moyano	Jaguares	FB / WI	26

Four uncapped players among the World Cup reserve list is unusual but in this case not unexpected. Franco Molina and Ignacio Larrague are the next options at lock should Galarza be left out, while Santiago Grondona and Francisco Gorrissen are both potential bolters should they impress with the Argentina XV. Grondona has jumped from the Pumitas to the Pumas training squad in a matter of months while Gorrissen has continued his progress, adding muscle and switching to No8 with Belgrano.

If Cubelli travels the next in line would be Felipe Ezcurra at halfback, while Díaz Bonilla is the currently the most experienced local alternative at No10. Look for youngsters to challenge over the next few months with Domingo Miotti particularly well suited to leap into a starting spot for the Jaguares. Orlando is still in the picture but could be squeezed out further if Marcelo Bosch is recalled, while Ramiro Moyano is a casualty of the numbers game.

Much will be written and discussed in the coming months but the bottom line is that the Pumas are suddenly in a significantly happier place today than they were just six months ago. A fresh coaching staff, the return of the exiles, and the progress of youngsters has turned the tide from potential disaster to legitimate Quarter Final contenders.

 

A complete list of the Argentina’s senior player pool can be seen here.