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The 2020 Super Rugby season is rapidly approaching. Los Jaguares will be looking to replicate their strong season in 2019 by going one better. In order to do so player management will be a factor, as too will the progression of new and developing athletes.
Argentina’s scrum improved at RWC 2019, although the longstanding issue remains that Argentina have not yet replaced Marcos Ayerza. Both El Toro and Rodrigo Roncero set the bar at the highest point, a point too high for players since RWC 2015 to reach. In 2020 look out for Mayco Vivas to overtake Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro to become Los Jaguares starting loose head.
Another troublesome position has been flanker. The retirement of Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe opened a massive hole which remains visible. His lineout work, alone had the consequence of moving players out of position to adjust. In RWC 2019 the results were evident with a sacrifice made to play Javier Ortega Desio not Facundo Isa at N8. Francisco Gorrisen is a jumping flanker and is one to watch to become the key target at the back of the lineout.
Gorrisen’s importance is part of the bigger picture. Juan Manuel Leguizamón and Pablo Matera now play abroad. With it there will be an increased role for the 2019 rookie. Meanwhile, 2020 rookie, Juan Bautista Pedemonte is Argentina’s best running N8 prospect. Watch for him to be the main player at N8 this year with Ortega Desio reverting to flanker.
The skill-set of Gorrisen and Pedemonte complement each other, enabling a varied lineout with Guido Petti and Matiás Alemanno as specialist targets and for Marcos Kremer to be a utility switching from lock to flanker as required. It will also enable necessary rotation with Rodrigo Bruni covering N8 and Ortega Desio and Tomás Lezana able to play frequently at flanker not the back of the scrum.
In the backs no fly half has departed. Of the options, it is Domingo Miotti to watch in 2020. He is much younger than Juan Díaz Bonilla and also organizers play in a more threatening manner. Moreover, with all 2019 Pumas fly halves in their 30’s, Miotti is in prime condition to debut and become Los Pumas’ first choice 1o this year.
One of the flaws of having just one professional team is that it is hard to find rooms for everyone. In the case of Matías Moroni this saw him playing primarily on the right wing in 2019. Despite having talent there is no denying that he is best at outside center and that Los Jaguares’ have faster wingers who ask more questions of the defense. This year watch for Santiago Carreras to hold down a starting position, likely being the regular left winger with Bautista Delguy on the right win.
