Argentina Team of the Decade: Premiership

Anybody wanting to understand how test sides without professional rugby in their own countries can defeat Tier 1 teams ought to take note of Argentina and Fiji at RWC 2007. The talented players on their rosters were transformed into world-class athletes through professional leagues, predominantly in France and England.

Argentina’s first Semi Finals appearance in a RWC came following wins over France, Ireland, and Scotland; and Fiji reached the Quarter Finals by defeating Wales. One year earlier, Los Pumas defeated England in London. On that day six of Argentina’s starting lineup were players based in England.

The creation of Los Jaguares slowed down the migration to the English Premiership. Notwithstanding, the demand for Argentine players in England continues. With it the competition remains connected to Argentine rugby.

During the course of the decade of 2010-2019, Argentina had champions with English Premiership clubs. There were also players involved in relegated clubs? Who then, were the best players from Argentina over the course of the decade?

Best Forward: Juan Figallo
Best Back: Marcelo Bosch
MVP: Marcos Ayerza

 

ARGENTINA TEAM OF THE DECADE 2010-2019: ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP

1 Marcos Ayerza (Leicester Tigers) A mainstay in England, Marcos Ayerza was a one-club player and is  a Leicester Tigers legend. For the club he competed in finals in both the English Premiership and the Europeans Champions Cup. He was a involved in finals over consecutive years and an English champion in 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2013. Suggesting that Los Pumas have missed the loose head prop is an understatement. Argentina are yet to replace the loose head prop whose last cap was in 2015.

2 Santiago Socino (Newcastle Falcons) Like Agustín Creevy, Santiago Socino was converted from flanker to hooker in his 20’s. Both are now at Los Jaguares, although from 2015-2019 Socino played for the Newcastle Falcons. His development saw him signed to return to Argentina, from which he debuted for Los Pumas in 2019.

3 Juan Figallo (Saracens) Medical laws in France saw Juan Figallo leaving Montpellier for Saracens in 2014. At the club the prop from Salta regained his status as a world-class player. In 2019 he played in his third RWC and retired from international duty following the tournament. At Saracens his resumé includes winning the English Premiership in 2015, 2016 and 2018; and the European Champions Cup in 2016.

4 Ignacio Fernández Lobbe (Northampton Saints, Bath) Another Puma to be an English Champion, Ignacio Fernández Lobbe did so with the Sale Sharks. The club is one of five European clubs that he played for, of which three are members of the English Premiership. In his final years he played for the Northampton Saints an Bath in England with whom he continued to play exceptional rugby while in his mid 30’s.

5 Mariano Galarza (Worcester Warriors, Gloucester) RWC 2011 an 2015 second-rower, Mariano Galarza played in England from 2013-2018. He was a regular for both the Worcester Warriors and Gloucester, which coincided with him holding down a starting spot in Los Pumas in 2013-2014. He is also the only player in his position based in Europe to receive a cap following RWC 2015.

6 Julio Farías Cabello (London Welsh) Tucumán’s Julio Farías Cabello earned 30 caps in his 30’s from 2010-2013. At the age of 35 he joined London Welsh for a season in the English Premiership. There he played well for a struggling side. Despite one loss after another, the experience saw him playing regularly and giving him a base from which to build further for the test arena.

7 Pablo Matera (Leicester Tigers) Capped as a teenager, the current Pumas captain became a big name in rapid time. His performances in the 2013 Rugby Championship caught the eye of the Leicester Tigers who signed him that year. In his two years as a Tigers, Matera developed into the explosive ball-carrier that he is today.

8 Leonardo Senatore (Worcester Warriors) Two seasons at the Worcester Warriors contributed to Leonardo Senatore’s development. The experience helped propel him into becoming Argentina’s starting N8 at RWC 2015. When Los Jaguares began planning for the inaugural Super Rugby campaign, in 2016, Senatore was high up on the list for players to bring home.

9 Alfredo Lalanne (London Irish) At both ends of the 2019-2020 decade a RWC scrum-half from Argentina has been involved in the English Premiership. The 2011 edition, Alfredo Lalanne played for London Irish from 2008-2011, the same years that he earned caps for Los Pumas.

10 Ignacio Mieres (Exeter Chiefs, Worcester Warriors) Fly half Ignacio Mieres earned six test caps fro Argentina. The number ought to have been notably more, particularly during the his years at the Exeter Chiefs. There he was a consistent performer in his prime. He also played for the Worcester Warriors, giving him five years in the Premiership during the decade.

11 Horacio Agulla (Leicester Tigers, Bath) Pumas winger, Horacio Agulla moved from France to England in 2010. He joined the Leicester Tigers in 2010, spending his prime years at the club before moving to Bath where he remained until 2016. He played in the 2011 and 2012 Premiership Finals for the Tigers.

12 Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle Falcons) Having turned down selection for Italy, Juan Pablo Socino was rewarded with an eventual call-up for Los Pumas. He went to RWC 2015 following a strong season for the Newcastle Falcons whom he called home from 2014-2018.

13 Marcelo Bosch (Saracens) An English Premiership winner in 2016 and 2018; and a European Champions Cup winner in 2016 and 2017, Marcelo Bosch enjoyed a highly successful time with Saracens. It converted onto the international stage as in 2015, Bosch was Argentina’s best outside center in RWC history. In the years since Los Pumas have struggled to replace him and this continues now in 2020.

14 Gonzalo Camacho (Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers) Based in England from 2009-2016, Gonzalo Camacho played for three Premiership clubs. He won the European Challenge Cup with the Harlequins in 2011, doing so by scoring the match winning try. In 2013 he won the Game Changer of the season award for all players in the Premiership.

15 Santiago Cordero (Exeter Chiefs) During his two seasons with the Exeter Chiefs, Santiago Cordero scored scintillating tries and broke records. He set a record for defenders beaten of 96 in the 2018-2019 season, a number unmatched by all other players. He was named in the English Premiership Dream Team for the 2018-2019 season.