Ledesma off to Europe to visit RWC hopefuls

With an eye to the RWC Mario Ledesma is to visit 14 Argentine players in Europe. The hot topic of speculating which overseas players will go to the Rugby World Cup will soon be over for the RWC cycle as the Head Coach of Los Pumas visits players and attends Six Nations players this month.

Ledesma’s visit to Europe has already begun. It started yesterday and will continue until March 20. Together with assistant coach Nicolás Fernández Miranda he is to visit Dublin, London, Castres, Paris, and Toulon for meetings with players and to watch some matches.

Of the players that will be meeting with the Head Coach some played for Argentina in 2018, others last did in RWC 2015 or earlier, and one is even uncapped. The list as published by Alejo Miranda in La Nación is demonstrated in the following table.

PLAYER	POS	CLUB	UNION
Facundo Gigena	LH	Leicester Tigers	England
Lucas Noguera Paz	LH	Bath	England
Tomás Baravalle	HO	Benetton Treviso	Italy
Santiago Socino	HO	Newcastle Falcons	England
Juan Figallo	TH	Saracens	England
Ramiro Herrera	TH	Stade Français	France
Francisco Goméz Kodela	TH	Lyon	France
Mariano Galarza	LO	Bordeaux	France
Facundo Isa	N8	Toulon	France
Nicolás Sánchez	FH	Stade Français	France
Benjamín Urdapilleta	FH	Castres	France
Marcelo Bosch	CE	Saracens	England
Santiago Cordero	WI	Exeter Chiefs	England
Juan Imhoff	WI	Racing 92	France

Ledesma noted that on the one hand he is in Europe to see the Six Nations, notably England and France whom Argentina will play against in Pool C of RWC 2019. On the other hand he is also going to attend and English Premiership match between Saracens and Bath which is to see the involvement of Pumas.

The fourteen names can now all be marked down as in the frame for selection for Los Pumas not only for RWC 2019 but also for the Rugby Championship. Of them seven, or 50%, are front-rowers. This is a reflection of the needs of Argentina at present with Los Jaguares having a shortage in the department.

Of the front-row positions hooker is almost settled with Agustín Creevy, and Julián Montoya being the clear leading two players. Yet Ledesma is looking at taking three hooker stop the RWC and there is not a third from within Argentina of the level and ready.

In 2018 Facundo Bosch earned a cap, joining Los Pumas from Agen to face South Africa. Ledesma will not be meeting with him but will be doing so with Pro 14 hooker Tomás Baravalle and English Premiership hooker Santiago Socino. With Creevy presently injured there may yet be two European-based hookers on the plane to Japan.

At loose head prop the uncapped Mayco Vivas has been preferred to both Santiago García Botta, and Juan Pablo Zeiss. This is despite him being aged just 20. English Premiership props Facundo Gigena, and Lucas Noguera Paz are both former Jaguares and will meet Ledesma this month.

On the tight head side Santiago Medrano is the leading Jaguar despite being just 22 years of age. Veteran Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro can play either side though is not assured of a place. Ledesma is seeking a solution from Europe which sees Juan Figallo, Ramiro Herrera, and Francisco Gomez Kodela all meeting with the Head Coach this month.

The remaining forwards are Top 14 players Mariano Galarza, and Facundo Isa. The pair are very strong candidates for the RWC with the former having played vs France last November and the latter arguably being Argentina’s best forward.

The backs see two fly halves, one center, and two wingers listed. The names answer speculation as to who are potential RWC Pumas backs based in Europe. Not included is Patricio Fernández who has struggled this season for game time with Clermont. His absence seed Benjamín Urdapilleta joining Nicolás Sánchez as the names meeting Ledesma.

In a minor surprise veteran Marcelo Bosch will meet with Ledesma. The English Premiership player is now aged 35 yet continues to be commonly considered as Argentina’s leading outside center ahead of Jaguares Matías Moroni, and Matías Orlando.

Bosch’s inclusion all but confirms that Juan Pablo Socino is out of the running. The Edinburgh center has not played with regularity in the Pro 14 this season and is also up against Jaguares who are well placed to be selected as the inside centers.

Finally wingers Santiago Cordero, and Juan Imhoff will meet with Ledesma. This is despite Losn Jaguares having riches in the position with Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, and Ramiro Moyano all being excellent in Super Rugby and the test arena.

There is, nonetheless, no overlooking the excellence of both Cordero, and Imhoff who are in the middle of outstanding seasons in Europe. Missing though is Olympian Axel Muller who is the one possible name playing in a second division competition who may have been on the radar for RWC 2019.