Pumas Test Rookies in 2021

The year 2021 was a busy one for Argentina. Los Pumas played twelve test matches, doing so in three continents, none of which were South America. Coach Mario Ledesma handed first caps to thirteen players, in doing so there was a very high average of more than one test debut per test match.

The 2021 rookies covered many, but not all, positions. There was an overall disbalance. Five loose head props made their debuts compared to one tight head prop. No hooker debuted nor did a second-row. This is an indication into where certain positions are stable in the front-five and where others are not.

Selection for 2022 and, indeed, RWC 2023 can also be interpreted based on other positions. There were two debutants in the back-row. One of them received plenty of opportunities; Juan Martín González scored on debut against Romania and was a mainstay in the Rugby Championship and beyond.

The backs saw debuts at scrum-half, center, wing and fullback. Like Juan Martín González, Gonzalo García’s debut came following an outstnading season in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). Both players are now in Europe. Lucio Cinti will play together with González at London Irish. He made his debut in the Rugby Championship.

There were three rookie back-three players this year. They all play at both wing and fullback but were used as wingers by Ledesma. Mateo Carreras was the most used of the three players. The last to debut was Facundo Cordero. He did so against Ireland to close out the year.

It should be noted that some publications have listed Facundo Gigena as having debuted for Argentina prior to 2021. The match in question was not a game involving Los Pumas and World Rugby labeled the team as Argentina XV. Gigena’s debut was against Romania and he underwent the traditional Pumas debutant’s head-shave following the match.

Gigena’s debut was followed by veteran Carlos Muzzio earning his first cap against South Africa. Both Rodrigo Martínez and Thomas Gallo also debuted during the Rugby Championship. This happened with 2020 loose heads Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Mayco Vivas missing. In November Ignacio Calles debuted against Italy. He had been identified to do so against Romania; instead, Gigena did so with Calles injured at the time.

Ignacio Mendy is the only 2021 Pumas rookie who is presently not playing his rugby in Europe.

 

LOS PUMAS – TEST ROOKIES 2021

LOOSE HEAD
Ignacio Calles (debut vs Italy); Facundo Gigena (debut vs Romania); Rodrigo Martínez (debut vs Australia); Carlos Muzzio (debut vs South Africa); Thomas Gallo (debut vs Australia)

HOOKER
N/A

TIGHT HEAD
Eduardo Bello (debut vs Australia)

SECOND-ROW
N/A

FLANKER / N8
Juan Martín González (debut vs Romania); Joaquín Oviedo (debut vs Australia)

SCRUM-HALF
Gonzalo García (debut vs New Zealand)

FLY HALF
N/A

CENTER
Lucio Cinti (debut vs South Africa)

WING / FULLBACK
Mateo Carreras (debut vs Australia); Facundo Cordero (debut vs Ireland); Ignacio Mendy (debut vs South Africa)