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Changes are under way in Los Pumas. They are taking place in front of our eyes. There is a new generation or La Nueva Generación taking shape. Quite simply, numerous names from RWC 2019 are unable to command positions as fresh faces are being selected instead.
Saturday’s test match against New Zealand was revealing. Mario Ledesma handed the fly half position to Santiago Carreras. The 23-year-old went into the game with all prior starts for his country on the wing or at fullback. He had never started a Super Rugby match nor an English Premiership match at fly half. His performance suggests there is more to come.
The decision to play Carreras at 10 came with Domingo Miotti on the bench and Joaquín Díaz Bonilla outside of the 23. In other words, despite Nicolás Sánchez sidelined through injury, there were specialists available. The selection was arguably part of the bigger picture; Argentina has depth in the back-three.
Ledesma has used eight wings thus far in 2021. There have been test starts or game time from the bench for all of Emiliano Boffelli, Sebastián Cancelliere, Santiago Carreras, Santiago Cordero, Bautista Delguy, Juan Imhoff, Matías Moroni, and Ignacio Mendy. That is eight wingers in seven test matches. The roster also contains uncapped wingers Mateo Carreras and Marcos Moneta.
A roster for a RWC typically contains a combined total of five players for wing and fullback. In 2019 Ledesma had six as Moroni played wing. The five others were Boffelli, Delguy, Ramiro Moyano, Santiago Carreras and Joaquín Tuculet. Moroni and Tuculet also played at RWC 2015.
Argentina and Moroni’s first test of 2021 was against Romania. Moroni started at outside center then and did again in the 39-0 loss against New Zealand. In between these matches his starts were on the wing; however, this past Saturday’s match saw him on the bench.
Ledesma replaced Moroni with Lucio Cinti. It marked a brand-new centers combination with Santiago Chocobares playing inside center. Like Carreras at fly half, Chocobares and Cinti both played well in the centers. The decision to play them was rewarded and sends a message to established names: perform or miss out.
Both Jerónimo de la Fuente and Matías Orlando are unavailable through injuries. Their next opportunities will be in November. Between now and then Argentina face Australia in two Rugby Championship matches. Chocobares and Cinti ought to have the opportunity to cement their places as part of the move to the La Nueva Generación.
Tomás Cubelli is another player recovering in Europe. In his absence Ledesma started Felipe Ezcurra and Gonzalo Bertranou against South Africa and the latter also started against New Zealand. Gonzalo García made his test debut as the understudy to Bertranou against New Zealand. The performances suggest that the pressure is firmly on Ezcurra. Cubelli is expected back for November with two others, not three, likely to be on the plane.
There are further cases of the La Nueva Generación. The starting props against South Africa did not start against New Zealand due to club commitments. This saw alterations, and problems were at the forefront in the scrum. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro’s replacement, Facundo Gigena debuted in July for Argentina. He did so at the age of 26.
The video evidence indicates that Gigena added stability, though questions remain unanswered in terms of general play. With Carlos Muzzio and Enrique Pieretto on the field in place of Gigena and Santiago Medrano, the scrum was strengthened. Moreover, a debut may be approaching for 22-year-old Thomas Gallo.
N8 is another position surrounded by question marks. Argentina played Pablo Matera out of position on Saturday. This saw specialist Joaquín Oviedo watching on from the sidelines. His status as uncapped is unlikely to remain for long. In addition, Ledesma started 20-year-old Juan Martín González ahead of the 40 test cap, 27-year-old Tomás Lezana at flanker.
Not all veteran names are on the way out. To the contrary, there are players doing their utmost to be in the picture for France 2023. For instance, his work rate against New Zealand indicates that Tomás Lavanini is back. He made 20 tackles in the match and carried very well. He was on his game and well-disciplined.
Spoiler alert: upcoming editions of World Cup Watch will further the above. Los Pumas are well into a transitional period. Many names from RWC 2019 will not be in the team for RWC 2023. La Nueva Generación is pushing out players who have amassed many test caps.
