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Los Jaguares XV will be one of six competitors in the 2021 Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). The Buenos Aires-based side is Argentina’s only entrant in this year’s SLAR. Los Jaguares XV replaces Los Ceibos; the Argentine team that competed in the 2020 SLAR. The 30-man roster is entirely home-grown. It contains a combination of Ceibos players, Argentine u20s players and some who played Super Rugby for Los Jaguares.
JAGUARES XV HEAD COACH
Ignacio Fernández Lobbe is a name known the world over. The 46-year-old iearned 65 caps for Argentina from 1996-2008. He played in three RWCs. He held down a starting spot in the second-row in RWCs 1999, 2003, and 2007. He played in two RWC Quarter Finals, a Semi Final and won the 2007 Bronze Final. His trajectory to the top became at Liceo Naval in Buenos Aires. He went on to play professional rugby in France and England for 2000-2011. He did so for Bordeaux, Castres, Sale Sharks, Northampton Saints, and Bath. He has coached Argentina u20s, the Argentina XV, and Los Ceibos.
CAPTAIN
Fernández Lobbe named Felipe Ezcurra as his captain. Felipe Ezcurra was involved in Argentina’s successful Tri Nations tournament in 2020 in Australia. He was the starting scrum-half in the third and fourth matches. His performance in the fourth match was arguably his best game for Los Pumas. He directed play well and had an assist try for Bautista Delguy. The 27-year-old played Super Rugby in 2017-2020. He also had a stint with the Leicester Tigers. He has 11 caps for Argentina.
STAR PLAYER
Santiago Chocobares started his try career with a bang. He debuted against New Zealand at the age of 21. His debut was non-other than the historic win over the All Blacks in Sydney, Australia. Chocobares defended magnificently and was always able to gain meters when used as a mid-field ball-carrier. He added an element to Argentina’s mid-field that has not existed for a very long time. Unlike most Pumas 12’s, Chocobares is not a fly half converted to inside center. He signed to play Super Rugby Aotearoa for the Blues. He was unable to join the team in time; hence, he is playing SLAR instead.
SMART SIGNING
Los Jaguares XV has a strong player roster. One player of note on is Juan Pablo Zeiss. The prop from Pategonia had offers to play abroad. He decided to stay and play for Los Jaguares XV. He is a player that can pass on his expertise to the youth on the roster. He is also a player who may stay on for longer in the team.
ONE TO WATCH
There is no place on the roster for Javier Ortega Desio. He was officially dropped, though there appears to be more to the story. In any event, teenager Joaquín Oviedo is being groomed as a Pumas N8. He went with the team to Australia for the Tri Nations. He did not receive his firt test cap, though he did play in the warm-up matches. There is a lot to look out for in him; Oviedo is strong in the lineout and has a high workrate.
STRENGTHS
Opposition coaches, players and supporters will look at the roster and say the team is formidable. There is no shortage of reasons to do so. The team has players with Super Rugby experience; not to mention Pumas. It is a strong side across all positions. This is the case despite a player exodus involving Jaguares and Ceibos now playing abroad. Los Jaguares XV are the measuring stick for the competition.
CONCERNS
With only Los Jaguares in Super Rugby there were certain positions wherein production was slow. A case in point is hooker. Agustín Creevy and Julián Montoya always played when fit. Facundo Bosch was back-up in 2016 and Santiago Socino in 2019-2020. All these players are now at elite clubs abroad. Meanwhile, there are no veterans left in Argentina. Los Jaguares XV’s three hookers are aged 19 and 20.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK
Los Jaguares XV are the firm favorites to win the 2021 SLAR. However, the level of the opposing teams will be superior to that historically. The impact of high performance centers has lifted the level of athletes and the quality of rugby they play. Uruguay’s win over Fiji at RWC 2019 and Chile’s campaign in the 2020 South American Championship are two cases in point. Notwithstanding, ARN projects Los Jaguares XV to be the 2021 SLAR champions.
For further information click here to access the ARN Súper Liga Americana de Rugby page.
