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Argentina’s preparations for Rugby World Cup 2023 took on a new meaning last week. The announcement of a 33-man roster to face Scotland in the July 2022 Internationals was a clear reveal as to Michael Cheika’s plans for the 2023 World Cup in France.
Argentina are in Pool D of Rugby World Cup 2023. The group will contain five competitors. At present four places have been claimed by England, Japan, Argentina, and Samoa. The remaining team will be either the USA or Chile. The will play a home-and-away series next month.
Click here to access Argentina’s complete list of senior training squads and overseas professionals.
| # | NAME | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
PROJECTED FIRST XV
| 1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 4 |
| 2 | Julián Montoya (capt.) | Leicester Tigers (UK) | HK | 75 |
| 3 | Francisco Gómez Kodela | Lyon (FR) | TH | 21 |
| 4 | Guido Petti | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 66 |
| 5 | Matías Alemanno | Gloucester (UK) | LO | 73 |
| 6 | Pablo Matera | Crusaders (NZ) | FL | 80 |
| 7 | Marcos Kremer | Stade Français (FR) | FL | 44 |
| 8 | Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | N8 | 37 |
| 9 | Gonzalo García | Valorugby Emilia (IT) | SH | 3 |
| 10 | Benjamín Urdapilleta | Castres (FR) | FH | 16 |
| 11 | Juan Imhoff | Racing 92 (FR) | WI | 38 |
| 12 | Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 5 |
| 13 | Lucio Cinti | London Irish (UK) | CE | 7 |
| 14 | Santiago Cordero | Bordeaux (FR) | WI | 31 |
| 15 | Emiliano Boffelli | Edinburgh (UK) | FB | 38 |
The projected starting formation contains players all on the roster for the July home series against Scotland. Julián Montoya will lead Los Pumas both then and at the Rugby World Cup. He is joined by Thomas Gallo and Francisco Gómez Kodela in the front-row. The former debuted in 2021 while the latter is a seasoned veteran who is coming off a Challenge Cup title with Lyon.
Guido Petti is assured of his spot in the second-row. The man who partners him remains undetermined. Given that four specialists are on the roster for the Scotland series, the likelihood of Marcos Kremer playing second-row is low. This also signifies that the RWC 2023 plans are shaping up with Kremer as flanker. the hihgly reliable Matías Alemanno is coming off a strong season for Gloucester and brings everything that the Pumas 5 shirt asks for.
Pablo Matera and Kremer are the projected flankers. Facundo Isa’s ball-carrying and defense gives the back-row the mix that it needs for Argentina to play physical rugby and build towards victories.
Gonzalo García’s inclusion for July sees Gonzalo Bertranou on the Argentina XV roster. In other words, the scrum-half position is either going to veteran Tomás Cubelli or 2021 debutant, Gonzalo García. ARN projects the younger player to be starting in France 2023.
With Benjamín Urdapilleta and Nicolás Sánchez on the roster, Santiago Carreras is looking unlikely to continue as the fly half. The Castres veteran returns to now be the front-runner for the 10 shirt at the World Cup. He has held down a starting spot for an elite club while Nicolás Sánchez has been the understudy at his club.
Either Jerónimo de la Fuente or Santiago Chocobares will play inside center. The veteran or the younger, stronger player. ARN projects Chocobares who adds a dimension to Los Pumas’ attack. In sticking with youth, Lucio Cinti is inline to be the outside center.
It is back to the future on the wings. The RWC 201r5 combination is now on target to reform and start at RWC 2023. Santiago Cordero and Juan Imhoff are joined by Emiliano Boffelli in the back-three.
PROJECTED REPLACEMENTS
| 16 | Agustín Creevy | London Irish (UK) | HK | 89 |
| 17 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Benetton (IT) | LH | 67 |
| 18 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH | – |
| 19 | Juan Martín González | London Irish (UK) | LO | 8 |
| 20 | Santiago Grondona | Exeter Chiefs (UK) | FL | 6 |
| 21 | Tomás Cubelli | Biarritz (FR) | SH | 82 |
| 22 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | WI/FH | 19 |
| 23 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 13 |
Agustín Creevy’s age seems to no longer matter. It was argued by the prior coaching regime that he would not be around for RWC 2023. Now, he is back and will slot in to be the replacement hooker. Argentina will get good 15 minute performances from the former captain.
The uncapped Joel Sclavi is the ideal man to cover tight head. Like he did for European Champions Cup winners, La Rochelle, Sclavi can come on and ensure the scrum is a rocksolid weapon.
The make-up of the roster and the skill-set of Kremer suggests a tactic for the starting flanker to move to second-row. This policy would enable Argentina to have two replacement flankers. Such a move would play to the strengths of the team; hence, Santiago Grondona and Juan Martín González are both on the bench.
The backs are covers by one specialist and two utility players. Santiago Carreras covers fullback, wing and fly half while Juan Cruz Mallía covers center, wing and fullback. This will enable many options. Carreras is covering fly half based on the team’s best chances of success. Emiliano Boffelli is a specalist goal-kicker who can cover for Benjamín Urdapilleta as required.
PROJECTED TRAVELING REPLACEMENTS
| 24 | Facundo Bosch | La Rochelle (FR) | HK | 12 |
| 25 | Ignacio Calles | Pau (FR) | LH | 2 |
| 26 | Santiago Medrano | Worcester Warriors (UK) | TH | 27 |
| 27 | Lucas Paulos | Brive (FR) | LO | 5 |
| 28 | Tomás Lavanini | Clermont (FR) | LO | 68 |
| 29 | Rodrigo Bruni | Brive (FR) | N8 | 14 |
| 30 | Gonzalo Bertranou | Dragons (UK) | SH | 37 |
| 31 | Nicolás Sánchez | Stade Français (FR) | FH | 93 |
| 32 | Jerónimo de la Fuente | Perpignan (FR) | CE | 65 |
| 33 | Bautista Delguy | Clermont (FR) | WI | 22 |
Argentina’s roster for the July Internationals against Scotland are a leading component of the equation. Some on the Argentina XV roster for games against Portugal and Georgia are likely there to get game time rather than be third choice, and possibly unused, for Los Pumas against Scotland. Hooker Facundo Bosch is a case in point. He is certainly ahead of Ignacio Ruiz who joins Montoya and Creevy against Scotland.
Ignacio Calles makes the roster ahead of Mayco Vivas. ARN projects Calles ahead of Vivas for the World Cup. Santiago Medrano is the third choice specialist tight head. If rotation is used during the pool stage then Calles, Bosch and Medrano are a more than worthy front-row.
Lucas Paulos and Tomás Lavanini are both listed. As noted on the replacements, two flankers have made the bench. The second-rowers will be called-upon for busy shifts in the pool stage when players in this position will require management. Rodrigo Bruni makes the roster as the understudy to Facundo Isa at N8.
Gonzalo Bertranou is the third choice scrum-half for the World Cup. He and Nicolás Sánchez will fill in when required. Jerónimo de la Fuente and Bautista Delguy will cover center and wing and will be certain to start at some point.
PLAYERS ON STAND-BY
| 34 | Santiago Socino | Gloucester (UK) | HK | 4 |
| 35 | Facundo Gigena | London Irish (UK) | LH | 7 |
| 36 | Enrique Pieretto | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | TH | 25 |
| 37 | Franco Molina | Selknam (CL) | LO | – |
| 38 | Francisco Gorrissen | Vannes (FR) | FL | 2 |
| 39 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | N8 | 1 |
| 40 | Eliseo Morales | Cafeteros Pro (CO) | SH | – |
| 41 | Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | FH | – |
| 42 | Lucas Mensa | Mont de Marsan (FR) | CE | 3 |
| 43 | Matías Orlando | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | CE | 47 |
| 44 | Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | WI | 5 |
| 45 | Martín Bogado | Jaguares XV | FB | – |
One player per position has been identified. If there is an injury or a late change is needed the players above are who to expect to be added. A talking point comes at outside center where Matías Orlando is in and Matías Moroni misses out. There is room for both on the roster itself. Moroni’s utility option to cover wing is deemed as not being a factor for the World Cup as Argentina is well covered in the position with fullbacks covering if needed.
