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A blow has taken place to Argentina’s World Cup planning. Franco Molina is in danger of missing out. The second-rower was carried off injured in the second-half on Saturday. The Dogos captain was hurt playing against Selknam in Santiago, Chile.
The second-rower suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon. Unable to walk, Molina was carried off the field. The injury mean that his Super Rugby Americas 2023 season is over. Molina and Lautaro Simes have been the leading second-row combination in the league. Gregorio Hernández is set to now partner Simes in the engine room while Federico Albrisi will now have a major role too.
As outlined, the injury is devastating for Los Dogos. It is also disruptive to Argentina’s World Cup planning. Molina was on Argentina’s roster for the November 2022 Internationals. Michael Cheika called-up the uncapped forward to replace the then-injured Guido Petti.
Petti has had a complicated 2022-2023 season. Injuries have limited his game-time for Bordeaux. This followed Cheika utilizing Matías Alemanno and Tomás Lavanini as his preferred second-row in 2022. Lucas Paulos played in Petti’s absence while Molina remains uncapped.
ARN recently projected Molina to be a non-traveling World Cup replacement for Argentina. That is to say he is positioned as the next in line following Alemanno, Lavanini, Petti and Paulos. His injury now opens opportunities for others.
Lautaro Simes has been highly consistent for Los Dogos. Rodrigo Fernández Criado and Lorenzo Colidio (Pampas) are further SRA options, though Lucio Anconetoni (Cobras) has been playing better in Super Rugby Americas 2023. Ignacio Calas and MLR players Lucas Bür (Dallas Jackals) and Nahuel Milán (Rugby ATL) are additional names who merit consideration.
Molina and Milán started for the Argentina XV in July 2022. They did so in away wins against Rugby World Cup 2023 teams Georgia and Portugal. Molina and Ignacio Calas started for the Argentina XV in the draw against Uruguay and the win over the USA Falcons. Colidio was the replacement in both.
