Americas Missing XV 2021

A lot of test match rugby was played in 2021. Test teams from the Americas battled-it-out in Rugby World Cup Qualifiers and also played in a range of matches against teams from other regions.

2021 was very different to 2020, though there were still teams that did not get to play test match rugby. Colombia’s RWC qualifier against Chile was cancelled. It was to be the only test match of the year for Los Tucanes. Paraguay’s RWC qualifier against Brazil was the only test match for the Paraguayans.

The USA’s home match against Ireland was cancelled. The Eagles missed out on playing a test match in the month of November. Mexico’s home match against the Cayman Islands was the only test match of the year for Rugby Americas North teams other than Canada or the USA.

Players were also affected. The lack of a global season was a central reason why some players played limited test rugby in 2021 or did not play at all. Others missed out based on injuries or selection.

Who, then were the Americas missing players in 2021? The Americas Missing XV details players who did not play test match rugby in 2021 who arguably should have played but missed out.

 

AMERICAS MISSING XV 2021

1 Mayco Vivas (Argentina)
Argentina had a torrid year at loose head prop. Injury forced Mayco Vivas to miss all twelve test matches. The test year began with Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and ended with Thomas Gallo starting. Ignacio Calles, Facundo Gigena, Rodrigo Martínez and Carlos Muzzio also all played. Vivas would have played in most, if not all, if fit.

2 Agustín Creevy (Argentina)
One of the leading hookers in England in 2021 was Agustín Creevy. The former Pumas captain has not played for his country since RWC 2019. Julián Montoya had a superb year as captain while Facundo Bosch did very well as the understudy. Santiago Socino was third choice. Given the demands of the year there are questions as to (a) why Montoya started every match and (b) why Creevy did not feature to keep the legs fresh.

3 Titi Lamositele (USA)
Creevy’s last test match was against Titi Lamositele. The Washington state giant started against Argentina in Kumagaya, Japan. The Eagles missed out on test match rugby in 2020 and Lamositele was not involved in the 2021 match. The dates of the RWC qualifiers were complicated. He was one such player who did not play because he remained in France with his club.

4 Evan Olmstead (Canada)
Evan Olmstead had a busy 2021 for Biarritz. Having helped the team to win promotion to the Top 14 a rest was certainly needed. He did not play in Canada’s July tour of England and Wales nor the November Internationals or the RWC qualifiers. Like the USA, Canada was bellow full-strength for the RWC qualifiers. Olmstead was a notable omission in the historic loss against Chile.

5 Tyler Duguid (Canada)
One of Canada’s most promising talents, Tyler Duguid, was expected to debut in 2021. Like his Montpellier teammate, Titi Lamositele, he did not feature. The scheduling of the RWC 2023 qualifiers was a timely reminder of the lack of a global season. Top players were not always available.

6 Andrés Zafra (Colombia)
Colombia’s biggest name missed out on paying test match rugby in 2021. Andrés Zafra had a very busy first half of the year and this continued in the second following his move from Agen to Brive. Zafra was not on the roster to face Chile. Travel rules meant it was not possible for him to feature. With no Americas Rugby Challenge this year, Colombia did not play any test matches.

7 Tony Lamborn (USA)
The Eagles played in the vital RWC qualifiers without flanker Tony Lamborn. He had a busy 2021 playing in New Zealand but was not available for any of the USA’s test matches. His most recent cap was against Tonga at RWC 2019.

8 Gerson Ortíz (Colombia)
Professional rugby reached Colombia in 2022. Los Cafeteros Pro played in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR). The Colombian entrant had far more Colombian players than the Olímpia Lions did Paraguayans. One player who stood out was Gerson Ortíz. With no test matches in 2021 he missed out on earning caps.

9 Martín Landajo (Argentina)
Tomás Cubelli is Argentina’s regular starting scrum-half. Injury saw him out of the Rugby Championship. There was expectation that Martín Landajo would return to the roster. He won the English Premiership with the Harlequins and was moving to Perpignan. Landajo missed out with Felipe Ezcurra starting the first game of the Rugby Championship only to be overtaken by others.

10 Patricio Fernández (Argentina)
Patricio Fernández’ name was on Argentina’s long-list for international duty in 2021. He missed out in July and then had a minor injury prior to the Rugby Championship. He was not selected for November. During the same time-frame, Mario Ledesma moved Santiago Carreras from wing to fly half. Fernández ought to have played some test rugby in 2021. Tomás Albornoz and Martín Roger are additional notable options that missed out.

11 Axel Müller (Argentina)
Argentina went through many wingers in 2021. They included centers and fullbacks playing in the position. There were also players who missed out altogether. Axel Müller is arguably the most notable absentee from Los Pumas’ wing stocks in 2021. He had a strong season for Brive and was set to be on the roster. The UAR intervened to see his name left off. He is now focused on switching allegiance to help the USA qualify for RWC 2023.

12 Paul Lasike (USA)
Injuries and dates prevented Paul Lasike from earning caps in 2021. The powerful center has not played for the USA since RWC 2019. He joined Lamborn and Lamositele in facing Tonga in Osaka. The Eagles will desperately want all three back for the RWC qualifiers in 2022. The Eagles face Chile in a home-and-away series in July. Perhaps Müller could play outside Lasike?

13 Matías Orlando (Argentina)
Injuries saw Matías Orlando miss out on selection throughout 2021. The first choice outside center from 2020 had a good season for the Newcastle Falcons but was never fit to be named in the test team. He is highly likely to return to the test arena in 2022. Fellow English Premiership centers Lucio Cinti and Matías Moroni and Toulouse centers Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía are his competition.

14 Leandro Leivas (Uruguay)
Uruguay’s big winger, Leandro Levias missed out on the initial roster for 2021. He subsequently made the decision to step away from Los Teros. He moved from the Toronto Arrows to focus on Polo. He will not be back for 2022, thereby ending his test career with 76 caps. His last cap was against Wales in Kumamoto at RWC 2019.

15 Taylor Paris (Canada)
Canadian flier Taylor Paris did not play test rugby in 2021. His absence coincided with inexperienced names being selected by Kingsley Jones. Paris could have slotted in at either wing or fullback in the RWC qualifiers and likewise in July against England and Wales or in November against Portugal and Belgium. His finishing abilities were sorely missed.