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The year 2020 saw a player exodus from Argentina abroad. The pandemic effect caused players left in droves. This came in the form of an exodus from Los Jaguares and another exodus from Los Ceibos. The outcome saw an influx of players into a number of markets. The leading two were the English Premiership and the French Top 14.
An outcome of the player movement makes it virtually possible to name Argentina line-ups made up entirely of players in the two above mentioned leagues. Such a scenario was possible up until the end of the RWC 2021-2015 cycle.
At present there are no Argentine players in the UK in this position. Otherwise, all positions are covered. Moreover, a hypothetical English-based side is possible. If Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro were to play tight head then Facundo Gigena (Leicester Tigers) could be the loose head. Alternatively, Santiago García Botta (Harlequins) could play. Unlike both, the Scotland-based Enrique Pieretto went to RWC 2019. Depth at hooker sees new Tiger Julián Montoya as an additional option.
All positions are covered in France. So much so, that there are 2020 Pumas who have had to be left out. Depth in the centers sees Lucas Mensa (Valence Romans) miss out. Similarly, Rodrigo Bruni (Vannes) is unlucky. While Argentine stocks in the the back-three have arguably never been stronger. This is shown by Axel Muller, (Brive), Ramiro Moyano (Toulon), Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux) all being unlucky.
How then do the British and French Argentine teams line-up?
2021 ARGENTINA BRITISH-BASED XV
1 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Bristol Bears), 2 Agustín Creevy (London Irish), 3 Enrique Pieretto (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Matías Alemanno (Gloucester), 5 Tomás Lavanini (Leicester Tigers), 6 Santiago Grondona (Newcastle Falcons), 7 Guido Volpi (Doncaster Knights), 8 n/a, 9 Martín Landajo (Harlequins), 10 Joaquín Díaz Bonilla (Leicester Tigers), 11 Mateo Carreras (Newcastle Falcons), 12 Matías Orlando (Newcastle Falcons), 13 Matías Moroni (Leicester Tigers), 14 Facundo Cordero (Exeter Chiefs), 15 Santiago Carreras (Gloucester)
2021 ARGENTINA FRENCH-BASED XV
1 Ignacio Calles (Pau), 2 Facundo Bosch (La Rochelle), 3 Franciso Gómez Kodela (Lyon), 4 Guido Petti (Bordeaux), 5 Lucas Paulos (Brive), 6 Pablo Matera (Stade Français), 7 Marcos Kremer (Stade Français), 8 Facundo Isa (Toulon), 9 Bernard Reggiardo (Aurillac), 10 Nicolás Sánchez (Stade Français), 11 Juan Imhoff (Racing 92), 12 Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan), 13 Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse), 14 Bautista Delguy (Bordeaux), 15 Emiliano Boffelli (Racing 92)
Click here to access Argentina’s complete up to date player pool.
