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Argentina’s roster for the end-of-year tour contains 32 players. 29 of the players play their rugby abroad and indications are that the number may reach 100% as more names are being recruited for the 2021-2022 European professional rugby season. The demand for players coincides with many who had been regulars in the frame now being challenged by others for their places on the roster.
Twenty of Mario Ledesma’s Rugby Championship roster are absent from the November Internationals. They are backs Santiago Cordero, Felipe Ezcurra, Domingo Miotti, Joaquín Díaz Bonilla, Santiago Mare, Santiago Chocobares, Matías Orlando, Sebastián Cancelliere, Ignacio Mendy, and Marcos Moneta; and forwards Santiago Socino, Rodrigo Martínez, Carlos Muzzio, Enrique Pieretto, Joel Sclavi, Juan Pablo Zeiss, Rodrigo Fernández Criado, Francisco Gorrissen, Tomás Lezana, and Joaquín Oviedo.
Their non-selection paints a grim picture for some. It also provides strong indications of Mario Ledesma’s intentions should he be the head coach come RWC 2023. The likes of Santiago Cordero, Tomás Lezana, Enrique Pieretto and Santiago Socino are missing despite being in their prime.
There is no inclusion for veterans Agustín Creevy, Juan Imhoff, and Benjamín Urdapilleta. Also excluded are Lucas Paulos, Tomás Albornoz and Axel Muller. None of these six players are missing based on injuries; indeed, there are few missing for this reason. Joel Sclavi, Mayco Vivas, Santiago Chocobares and Matías Orlando are injured.
The sample team of missing names is an indication of the extent of the changes to Super Rugby. Few of those names below play their rugby in Argentina; European clubs have recruited a large number of Argentines.
The list includes former captain Agustín Creevy as well as his RWC 2015 teammates Santiago Cordero, Mariano Galarza, Juan Imhoff, and Martín Landajo. There are also many younger names; players with caps. If Argentina can organize a professional domestic league then many of the names below are instances of who could be recruited.
NOVEMBER 2021 INTERNATIONALS – ARGENTINA MISSING XV
1 – Carlos Muzzio (Mont de Marsan, FR)
2 – Agustín Creevy (London Irish, UK)
3 – Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR)
4 – Mariano Galarza (Bayonne, FR)
5 – Lucas Paulos (Brive, FR)
6 – Francisco Gorrissen (Jaguares XV)*
7 – Tomás Lezana (Scarlets, UK)
8 – Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan, FR)
9 – Felipe Ezcurra (Jaguares XV) *
10 – Domingo Miotti (Glasgow Warriors, UK)
11 – Juan Imhoff (Racing 92, FR)
12 – Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR)
13 – Matías Orlando (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
14 – Axel Muller (Brive, FR)
15 – Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux, FR)
16 – Santiago Socino (Gloucester, UK)
17 – Ignacio Calles (Pau, FR)
18 – Enrique Pieretto (Glasgow Warriors, UK)
19 – Rodrigo Fernández Criado (Jaguares XV)
20 – Tomás de la Vega (Provence, FR)
21 – Martín Landajo (Perpignan, FR)
22 – Benjamín Urdapilleta (Castres, FR)
23 – Ignacio Mendy (Unattached)
* Presently finalizing a transfer to play in France.
