And Then There Were 13

Mario Ledesma is not mucking around. His roster for the November Internationals saw him showing no quarter for veterans. Names who had been permanent members under Daniel Hourcade are on the out. In an unprecedented approach established names have been dumped reducing the survivors from RWC 2015 to just 13 players.

Changes began earlier in the year before Ledesma replaced Hourcade. The performances of Los Jaguares and player selection by Ledesma saw Hourcade reacting to drop Martín Landajo for Gonzalo Bertranou and also replicate Ledesma with Javier Ortega Desio playing no 8.

Veterans Not Wanted
The success of Ortega Desio has had massive implications for the team and roster members. For Juan Manuel Leguizamón it sees him unable to make the roster. This leaves him stranded on 85 caps, two short of Felipe Contepomi’s all-time record appearances for Argentina. Without question his non-selection confirms that sentimentalism comes a distant second to team requirements.

Hourcade had Leguizamón starting against England at no 8 in the June Internationals, Italy in November and New Zealand and South Africa in the 2017 Rugby Championship. Leonardo Senatore also had starts in the same position yet he has not been picked at all by Ledesma. His most recent cap was against Scotland, Hourcade’s final test as Head Coach.

Santiago González Iglesias started the final four Pumas’ matches of 2017. Yet in Super Rugby Ledesma had the uncapped Bautista Ezcurra as the understudy to Jerónimo de la Fuente. This was replicated as of his 5 caps in 2018 3 were under Hourcade in June and 2 in the Rugby Championship.

Ledesma did not select González Iglesias for the November Internationals. This comes despite there only being Nicolás Sánchez as a specialist fly half. Furthermore options are being pursued from other positions with Emiliano Boffelli and Juan Cruz Mallía having Ledesma’s vote of approval.

Also missing out was Ramiro Herrera (Stade Français). His non-selection was motivated officially by a minor injury. Yet this simple answer only tells part of the story. His performances in the Rugby Championship did not see the same scrum stability as that with Juan Figallo.

Called-in to the camp was Manuel Montero. This came as no surprise yet with him missing out on a place on the roster, while an u20 player was picked in his position, it is more than an indication that Argentina’s European-Based wingers are in the plans.

And Then There Were 13
Replacing Creevy with Matera as leader follows the above selection considerations. Ledesma is making up for lost time. Hourcade’s favoritism towards certain individuals has not been replicated in the slightest. To play for Ledesma’s team a player must perform.

The Ledesma-Matera roster depart for Europe with no players based abroad. Though watch this space. There are glaring signs that the dropping of those listed above is directed towards the big picture. For RWC 2019 players currently in Europe loom as highly likely to make the side in their places. For now, though, u20s talent are having an opportunity to tour and press for Super Rugby opportunities.

With matches against Ireland, France, Scotland, and the Barbarians Ledesma’s 13 names from RWC 2015 are Matías Alemanno, Agustín Creevy, Tomás Cubelli, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Santiago García Botta, Martín Landajo, Tomás Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Julián Montoya, Matías Moroni, Javier Ortega Desio, Guido Petti, and Nicolás Sánchez.