Argentina take 14 uncapped players to Australia

Argentina will take 14 uncapped players to Australia for the Rugby Championship. The time together in Australia will, no doubt, benefit the new blood. In short, Mario Ledesma’s 45-man roster has plenty of youth.

The players cover seven positions. They fall into line with the selections of players over the previous RWC cycle. The non-availability of Tomás Lavanini is explanatory in this regard. Three of the five second-rowers are uncapped. They are Ignacio Calás, Rodrigo Fernández Criado, and Lucas Paulos. Of the three only Paulos has played Super Rugby.

Argentina’s selection policy retained and rewarded players. Lavanini’s move to the Leicester Tigers enabled Paulos additional opportunities in 2020 compared to 2019. Matías Alemanno and Guido Petti both moved after the 2020 season was suspended.

Captain and flanker Pablo Matera last played Super Rugby in the 2019 Final. One player to feature more in 2020 as a result was Francisco Gorrissen. He and Santiago Grondona are both on the Rugby Championship roster. Also present is Juan Martín González. The u20’s back-rower from Mendoza is a bolter. His spot comes with regular Javier Ortega Desio out.

There are also two rookie hookers: Ignacio Calles and José Luis González. The former has been developing in France and is now seen as a loose head prop not a hooker. González featured for Los Ceibos. He did so with Los Jaguares spoiled for choice at hooker. Agustín Creevy, Julián Montoya and Santiago Socino were all on the RWC 2019 roster. González effectively takes Creevy’s spot for the trip to Australia.

The final rookie forward is Joaquín Oviedo. Like the aforementioned players, the N8 from Córdoba is being groomed as a long-term option. Oviedo has impressed in training in Montevideo.

The four remaining names are backs. Two are fly halves and two are centers. The fly halves both have Super Rugby experience. Domingo Miotti was heavily used in both 2019 and 2020. In the former year he was the understudy to Joaquín Díaz Bonilla in the Super Rugby play-off’s. Miotti overtook Díaz Bonilla in 2020. Albornoz was the third choice in 2020.

Santiago Chocobares emerge in 2020 as a longterm option for Los Jaguares and Los Pumas. He impressed in the pre-season and in the 2020 season itself. Also included is Lucio Cinti. Unlike Chocabares, Cinti has not played Super Rugby. He joins from Los Pumas 7’s.

 

Click here to access the complete player roster.

 

2020 RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – UNCAPPED ARGENTINE PLAYERS

LOOSE HEAD PROP
Ignacio Calles (Pau, FR)
Federico Wegryn (Ceibos)

HOOKER
José Luis González (u20’s)

SECOND-ROW
Ignacio Calás (Jaguares)
Rodrigo Fernández Criado (Ceibos)
Lucas Paulos (Jaguares)

FLANKER
Juan Martín González (u20’s)
Santiago Grondona (Jaguares)
Francisco Gorrissen (Jaguares)

N8
Joaquín Oviedo (u20’s)

FLY HALF
Tomás Albornoz (Jaguares)
Domingo Miotti (Jaguares)

CENTER
Lucio Cinti (u20’s & Pumas 7s)
Santiago Chocobares (Jaguares)