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Argentina’s target is in sight. The target is Los Pumas’ opening match of Rugby World Cup 2023. Argentina face England in Marseille on September 09. Five matches are confirmed before then but Argentina is in World Cup mode now.
The training camp earlier this month in Paris revealed a lot. It underlined prior editions of Argentina’s World Cup Radar on ARN. The players that are expected to play against England, Samoa, Chile and Japan at the World Cup can now be identified with complete clarity.
Two notable points that will factor in to the final roster must be noted. First, a handful of players missed the training camp due to logistics. Those playing in the Southern Hemisphere and Japan were not considered. Second, Michael Cheika is on record saying that new names will not be tested before the World Cup.
Click here to access Argentina’s complete list of senior training squads and overseas professionals.
PROJECTED 33-MAN ROSTER
Forwards (18)
Thomas Gallo (Benetton, IT), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Benetton, IT), Agustín Creevy (London Irish, UK), Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, UK), Ignacio Ruiz (London Irish, UK), Eduardo Bello (Saracens, UK), Francisco Gómez Kodela (Lyon, FR), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR), Matias Alemmano (Gloucester, UK), Tomás Lavanini (Clermont, FR), Lucas Paulos (Brive, FR), Guido Petti (Bordeaux, FR), Juan Martín González (London Irish, UK), Santiago Grondona (Brive, FR), Facundo Isa (Toulon, FR), Marcos Kremer (Stade Français, FR), Pablo Matera (Honda Heat, JP), Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
Backs (15)
Gonzalo Bertranou (Dragons, UK), Tomás Cubelli (Biarritz, FR), Eliseo Morales (Pampas), Tomás Albornoz (Benetton, IT), Santiago Carreras (Gloucester, UK), Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan, FR), Matías Moroni (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Matías Orlando (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh, UK), Mateo Carreras (Newcastle Falcons), Lucio Cinti (London Irish, UK), Santiago Cordero (Bordeaux, FR), Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR), Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR)
Rosters at RWC 2023 will consist of 33 players. This is an increase from 31 from the previous tournament. Three scrum-halves and three hookers have been included. There are five rather than six props to allow for an added outside back. This has been considered with the observation that tight head prop Joel Sclavi has been playing loose head for La Rochelle.
Two rather than three fly halves have been named. Toulouse’s use of Juan Cruz Mallia in the position in 2023 means that he is covering the position. This enables the added outside back which will enable Argentina to change all players depending on the needs of the team during the pool stage.
PROJECTED FIRST XV
| # | PLAYER | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
| 1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 13 |
| 2 | Julián Montoya (capt.) | Leicester Tigers (UK) | HK | 85 |
| 3 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH | 9 |
| 4 | Matías Alemanno | Gloucester (UK) | LO | 84 |
| 5 | Tomás Lavanini | Clermont (FR) | LO | 78 |
| 6 | Juan Martín González | London Irish (UK) | FL | 20 |
| 7 | Marcos Kremer | Stade Français (FR) | FL | 56 |
| 8 | Pablo Matera | Honda Heat (JP) | N8 | 91 |
| 9 | Gonzalo Bertranou | Dragons (UK) | SH | 48 |
| 10 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | FH | 31 |
| 11 | Emiliano Boffelli | Edinburgh (UK) | WI | 50 |
| 12 | Jerónimo de la Fuente | Perpignan (FR) | CE | 74 |
| 13 | Matías Moroni | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | CE | 69 |
| 14 | Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | WI | 7 |
| 15 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | FB | 23 |
Listed above, the projected First XV is the team expected to play against England in Marseille. Julián Montoya captains a side dominated by former Jaguares players. Fourteen of the XV play their rugby in Europe. The one exception is Pablo Matera who formerly did so before joining the Crusaders in New Zealand. From there he moved to Japan.
ARN now projects Joel Sclavi to start at tight head prop over Francisco Gómez Kodela. Sclavi has been playing more for his Top 14 club this season than has Gómez Kodela. His ball-carrying and scrum work are both noteworthy. The explosive Thomas Gallo is unchallenged as the starting loose head. Ignacio Ruiz, Gómez Kodela and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro are positioned as the replacement front-rowers.
Matías Alemanno moved ahead of Guido Petti in 2022. He holds down a starting spot alongside Tomás Lavanini. Petti looms as the replacement ahead of Lucas Paulos despite the relative game-time of the two players in the Top 14 this season.
Pablo Matera is positioned at N8 now not flanker. He is projected to join Marcos Kremer and Juan Martin González as the run-on back-row. Facundo Isa is the replacement back-rower.
Gonzalo Bertranou and Santiago Carreras are expected to start at scrum-half and fly half. They are to have Tomás Cubelli and Tomás Albornoz as their understudies. Jerónimo de la Fuente has been a constant for Perpignan this season while Santiago Chocobares’ recovery from injury saw far less game-time. Matías Moroni is favored for outside center.
Emiliano Boffelli and Juan Cruz Mallía are certain starters on the wing and at fullback respectively. Mateo Carreras is positioned ahead of Bautista Delguy and Santiago Cordero. Lucio Cinti covers wing, center and fullback.
REPLACEMENT XV
| # | PLAYER | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
| 1 | Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | Benetton (IT) | LH | 76 |
| 2 | Agustín Creevy | London Irish (UK) | HK | 97 |
| 3 | Francisco Gómez Kodela | Lyon (FR) | TH | 28 |
| 4 | Guido Petti | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 73 |
| 5 | Lucas Paulos | Brive (FR) | LO | 10 |
| 6 | Santiago Grondona | Brive (FR) | FL | 10 |
| 7 | Pedro Rubiolo | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | FL | 1 |
| 8 | Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | N8 | 44 |
| 9 | Tomás Cubelli (capt.) | Biarritz (FR) | SH | 88 |
| 10 | Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | FH | 3 |
| 11 | Santiago Cordero | Bordeaux (FR) | WI | 46 |
| 12 | Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 5 |
| 13 | Matías Orlando | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | CE | 57 |
| 14 | Bautista Delguy | Clermont (FR) | WI | 25 |
| 15 | Lucio Cinti | London Irish (UK) | FB | 12 |
It would be possible to field an entirely different team if desired. If, for instance, Cheika wanted to do so against Chile then the above line-up is an example. The above line-up is intended to show the alternatives on the roster rather than a projected line-up to actually start a World Cup match.
There will be times when certain players are rotated. Rest for Julián Montoya would potentially mean Agustín Creevy starts and Ignacio Ruiz provides cover. Eduardo Bello would cover Eduardo Gómez Kodela and Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro would switch places with Thomas Gallo.
Guido Petti and Lucas Paulos may both start at some stage or together in the same match. Rest for Alemanno or Lavanini could also see Marcos Kremer and Pedro Rubiolo involved as second-rowers. Rubiolo, Isa and Santiago Grondona are considered the replacement loose-forward names.
Tomás Cubelli is a leading name to captain Los Pumas in a match not involving Montoya. He and Tomás Albornoz are the favored players to start under rotated. Rest for Santiago Carreras may also mean Juan Cruz Mallía covers fly half. Rotation would mean Eliseo Morales covers Cubelli.
Matías Orlando playing outside Santiago Chocobares is the alternative center pairing. Santiago Cordero and Bautista Delguy offer tremens finishing abilities as the alternative wingers. The needs of utility on the roster are reflected with Lucio Cinti at fullback.
NON-TRAVELING XV
| # | PLAYER | CLUB | POS | CAPS |
| 1 | Ignacio Calles | Pau (FR) | LH | 2 |
| 2 | Santiago Socino | Gloucester (UK) | HK | 6 |
| 3 | Santiago Medrano | Western Force (AU) | TH | 31 |
| 4 | Nahuel Milán | Rugby ATL (US) | LO | – |
| 5 | Franco Molina | Dogos | LO | – |
| 6 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | FL | 1 |
| 7 | Francisco Gorrissen | Vannes (FR) | FL | 2 |
| 8 | Rodrigo Bruni | Brive (FR) | N8 | 18 |
| 9 | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | Rovigo (IT) | SH | 3 |
| 10 | Nicolás Sánchez | Brive (FR) | FH | 95 |
| 11 | Juan Imhoff | Racing 92 (FR) | WI | 42 |
| 12 | Lucas Mensa | Mont de Marsan (FR) | CE | 3 |
| 13 | Juan Pablo Castro | Pampas | CE | – |
| 14 | Sebastián Cancelliere | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | WI | 7 |
| 15 | Martín Bogado | Highlanders (NZ) | FB | – |
The non-traveling XV is Argentina’s next name per position. Ignacio Calles trained in Paris while Mayco Vivas did not. The former did not play test rugby in 2022 but the latter did. What makes Calles the more likely name is his involvement this season for Pau.
Facundo Bosch was a notable non-selection. He is considered fifth choice behind Santiago Socino who looms as the emergency option at present. Santiago Medrano is the leading name to call-up as an emergency tight-head.
Franco Molina is the leading second-row option. Though, it is arguably more likely that cover comes from flanker with Kremer and Rubiolo covering second-row. Joaquín Oviedo and Rodrigo Bruni trained in Paris while Francisco Gorrissen is ahead of Tomás Lezana as the next flanker option.
Gonzalo García was not involved in the Paris camp. Lautaro Bazán Vélez is thus the next name on Cheika’s potential list. Super Rugby Americas players Agustín Moyano and Martín Landajo are outside options.
The decision to not select Benjamín Urdapilleta for the training camp was among the most telling decisions. Nicolás Sánchez is ahead of him while Domingo Miotti also misses out.
Juan Imhoff and Sebastián Cancelliere were involved in the camp while Ignacio Mendy was not. They are thus the covering wing options at present. Martín Bogado covers fullback.
