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Argentina are in Pool D of Rugby World Cup 2023. The group will contain five qualifiers. At present four places have been claimed by England, Japan, Argentina, and Samoa. The remaining competitor will be either the USA or Chile. The will play a home-and-away series next July.
Who, then will take to the field for Argentina? With the completion of international competition for 2021 can it be said that the team is settled? No. Is it clear as to who will be starting against the aforementioned teams in France in 2023? No.
Argentina’s first XV is far from being finalized. 2022 will be certain to provide some answers. The current edition of World Cup Watch – ARGENTINA will attempt to explain who will play in the World Cup based on clues provided since RWC 2019 and what to expect in 2022.
As noted, Americas Rugby News identifies few positions as being certain at present. The First XV begins to answer the question by returning players that Mario Ledesma had playing in different positions back to where they tend to play. In short, the time for experimentation is over and come 2023 the team is projected as being settled.
Click here to access Argentina’s complete list of senior training squads and oversess professionals.
ARGENTINA
| # | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
PROJECTED FIRST XV
| 1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 4 |
| 2 | Julián Montoya | Leicester Tigers (UK) | HK | 75 |
| 3 | Francisco Gómez Kodela | Lyon (FR) | TH | 21 |
| 4 | Guido Petti | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 66 |
| 5 | Marcos Kremer | Stade Français (FR) | LO | 44 |
| 6 | Santiago Grondona | Exeter Chiefs (UK) | FL | 6 |
| 7 | Pablo Matera | Crusaders (NZ) | FL | 80 |
| 8 | Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | N8 | 37 |
| 9 | Gonzalo García | Valorugby Emilia (IT) | SH | 3 |
| 10 | Domingo Miotti | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | FH | 4 |
| 11 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | WI | 19 |
| 12 | Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 5 |
| 13 | Lucio Cinti | London Irish (UK) | CE | 7 |
| 14 | Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | WI | 5 |
| 15 | Emiliano Boffelli | Edinburgh (UK) | FB | 38 |
The post-Jaguares exodus combined with SLAR has opened up a new market for Argentine players. Clubs have signed players more than ever and this will continue. This will see more players tired from their club commitments and, in turn, will see more younger players given opportunities.
The time for experimentation is over. Either Mario Ledesma learns this early on in the 2022 test match period or he will simply not survive. He kept his job based on Argentina winning two matches against Tier 1 opponents in 2021. They were Wales in July and Italy in November.
It is safe to assume two wins will be mandatory in 2022. Realizing this objective will require less adventurism; namely, not fielding players out of their positions. Ledesma has done so throughout his time as Pumas coach. Javier Ortega Desio at N8 and Matías Moroni on the wing are two moderate cases from RWC 2019. In 2021 came an extreme case with Santiago Carreras used as Ledesma’s first choice fly half.
For RWC 2023 ARN projects Santiago Carreras being a back-up option at fly half, but the experiment with him starting at 10 will have seized. A specialist will to play instead, one that can be asked to kick goals. Despite missing out in November, Domingo Miotti is ARN’s projected option at fly half. Based on his skills and age he is the most likely 10 to face England in France 2023.
Gonzalo García will operate as an additional play-maker. This should see more try scoring options. In addition, the centers will be both threatening on offense and solid on defense. The wings and fullbacks will give Los Pumas an added dimension by being more than finishers.
Many established players are unlikely to be holding down starting positions in 2023. Younger players currently on the roster are well-placed to hold down starting positions before and at RWC 2023. This explains the low number of caps at present in many positions.
The result is that regulars such as Tomás Cubelli, Matías Moroni, Jerónimo de la Fuente, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Nicolás Sánchez are all out of the projected First XV. Tomás Lavanini misses out based on his disciplinary record. This also adds to where to play Marcos Kremer and helps shape the back-row too.
PROJECTED REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Facundo Bosch | La Rochelle (FR) | HK | 12 |
| 17 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Benetton (IT) | LH | 67 |
| 18 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH | – |
| 19 | Matías Alemanno | Gloucester (UK) | LO | 73 |
| 20 | Juan Martín González | London Irish (UK) | FL | 8 |
| 21 | Tomás Cubelli | Biarritz (FR) | SH | 82 |
| 22 | Martín Roger | Unattached | FH | – |
| 23 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | CE / FB | 13 |
The projected replacements are players that can contribute to an 80 minute performance. Joel Sclavi looms as the rock to ensure the scrum is powerful throughout. He is preferred to players with seasons of international duty at tight head. Facundo Bosch is well placed as is Matías Alemanno.
Juan Martín González had an impressive rookie season in 2021 and Santiago Grondona did in 2020. The pair could be starting together at RWC 2023. As it stands, Pablo Matera’s spot is underthreat; nonetheless, ARN has Matera slightly ahead of González.
Tomás Cubelli is behind Gonzalo García based on age as well as playing style. ARN deems García’s attributes as elevating him to be the first choice scrum-half before the tournament. Veterans Nicolás Sánchez and Jerónimo de la Fuente face competition and ARN expects Martín Roger to get opportunities in 2022 and Juan Cruz Mallía’s utility to see him ahead of Santiago Cordero for a place in the 23.
PROJECTED TRAVELING REPLACEMENTS
| 24 | Santiago Socino | Gloucester (UK) | HK | 4 |
| 25 | Mayco Vivas | Unattached | LH | 12 |
| 26 | Santiago Medrano | Western Force (AU) | TH | 27 |
| 27 | Lucas Paulos | Brive (FR) | LO | 5 |
| 28 | Francisco Gorrissen | Vannes (FR) | FL | 2 |
| 29 | Rodrigo Bruni | Vannes (FR) | N8 | 14 |
| 30 | Gonzalo Bertranou | Dragons (UK) | SH | 37 |
| 31 | Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | FH | – |
| 32 | Matías Moroni | Leicester Tigers (UK) | CE | 57 |
| 33 | Santiago Cordero | Bordeaux (FR) | WI/FB | 41 |
The match schedule for RWC 2023 is different to past editions. With more days it means that a First XV can potentially be used from one match to the next if desired. Few changes are possible. As such, projected traveling replacements may get game time in one match but are less likely to play in two or more or to start a match. This
The projected replacements consider names that are potentially best suited to play a cameo role and who, at the same time, could be thrust in to the 23 if required.
PLAYERS ON STAND-BY
| 34 | Pablo Dimcheff | Bordeaux (FR) | HK | – |
| 35 | Ignacio Calles | Pau (FR) | LH | 2 |
| 36 | Eduardo Bello | Zebre Parma (IT) | TH | 2 |
| 37 | Rodrigo Fernández Criado | Unattached | LO | – |
| 38 | Tomás Lezana | Scarlets (UK) | FL | 39 |
| 39 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | N8 | 1 |
| 40 | Joaquín Pellandini | Olímpia Lions (PY) | SH | – |
| 41 | Nicolás Sánchez | Stade Français (FR) | FH | 93 |
| 42 | Jerónimo de la Fuente | Perpignan (FR) | CE | 65 |
| 43 | Lucas Mensa | Mont de Marsan (FR) | CE | 3 |
| 44 | Bautista Delguy | Perpignan (FR) | WI | 22 |
| 45 | Marcos Moneta | Unattached | WI | – |
| 46 | Ignacio Mendy | Unattached | FB | 1 |
There will be players who miss out that deserve to make the roster. Injuries during the year of the World Cup will certainly play a part too. Those listed as players on stand-by are names currently projected as the next option for each position. There are some notable names, which certainly could well be in the 23.
The players on stand-by are the result of a combination of factors. These include how players have performed, their ages and attributes and how Mario Ledesma has used them previously.
