Santiago Cordero has been named in the English Premiership Dream Team. The Argentine speedster was chosen as the best right winger in England in the 2018-2019 season.
With this being a RWC year such an accolade is hard to ignore. Calls for him to be included in the roster to travel to Japan will only grow. Both he and Juan Imhoff (Racing 92, FR) have been in tremendous form this season, and are arguably the top two Argentine wingers in the world.
The official selection policy is that those clearly superior to players at Jaguares will play for Los Pumas. In the case of Cordero, and Imhoff they are up against Emiliano Boffelli, Bautista Delguy, and Ramiro Moyano.
Of the trio Boffelli is playing fullback for Jaguares while Delguy is out for the Super Rugby season through injury. This has seen Sebastián Cancelliere getting game time and even center Matías Moroni playing out of position.
All told it is realistic to suggest that Cordero, and Imhoff will both receive test duty this year. Both names are likely for the Rugby Championship with the roster for the RWC to be named subsequently.
The 2019-2020 European club season will be impacted by the RWC and Cordero’s new club, Bordeaux, will not know when he will first play for them until his selection for Los Pumas is clarified. Cordero joins the Top 14 side from the Exeter Chiefs.
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP DREAM TEAM
15 Alex Goode (Saracens) 14 Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs) 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 12 Mark Atkinson (Gloucester) 11 Ollie Thorley (Gloucester) 10 Danny Cipriani (Gloucester) 9 Cobus Reinach (Northampton Saints) 8 Matt Kvesic (Exeter Chiefs) 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) 6 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) 5 Will Skelton (Saracens) 4 Franco Mostert (Gloucester) 3 John Afoa (Bristol Bears) 2 Jamie George (Saracens) 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens)