Argentina – 5 Players to Watch at Rugby World Cup 2023

There is high expectation for Argentina at Rugby World Cup 2023. Los Pumas are the highest ranked of the five Pool D teams. Since the previous Rugby World Cup the South Americans have made history by defeating New Zealand for the first time and repeating it by winning against the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Restructuring meant Los Jaguares departed Super Rugby. The players proved to be in high demand and play in leading leagues around the world as a result. For this reason and for the level of Argentina there are many Pumas who are well-known by rugby followers around the world.

In identifying 5 Players to Watch at Rugby World Cup 2023 one pathway would be to name players who are well-established. Julián Montoya, Marcos Kremer, Tomás Lavanini, Pablo Matera, Gonzalo Bertranou and Emiliano Boffelli could be cases in point. They all played in Japan 2019.

This article looks at five players who debuted for Argentina since Rugby World Cup 2019. They are players who have become first-choice players and will start matches in France 2023 for this reason. The five selected players are aged 22-24.

 

ARGENTINA – LOS PUMAS

Thomas Gallo – Loose Head Prop

Thomas Gallo is well-known for his try for Argentina against France at u20 level in 2019. He has since made the step up to the senior level. His rise saw him signing for Benetton in the United Rugby Championship (URC) in 2000.

He played 19 matches in his rookie Benetton season, 22 in his second and 19 in his third. He was on many highlight reels for his offensive play. Gallo’s ability to break the defensive line and run with pace make him an x-factor prop.

Gallo made his test debut against Australia in 2021. He has earned 17 caps for his country thus far. Now aged 24, Gallo is one half of the first-choice props. His partner is 38-year-old Francisco Gómez Kodela. They compliment each other well; it is flair combined with hard work.

In addition to having the ability break the line, Gallo has also shown the he can pick-and-go from close range. He scored doubles in two matches against Australia. He will ask questions of the opposition who will need to be extra careful in covering him close to the line.

 

Juan Martín González – Flanker

Eight of Argentina’s 33-man roster played in the Súper Liga Americana de Rugby (SLAR) at some time during the RWC 2019-2023 cycle. Juan Martín González was named by ARN as the best forward from the 2021 SLAR season.

González was a stand-out for Argentina at u20 level. His potential saw him on Argentina’s roster for the 2020 Rugby Championship. His test debut did not come that year; rather, González made his test debut against Romania in 2021.

The remainder of 2021 saw González establishing himself as a regular and becoming a first-choice flanker in his rookie season. He was signed by London Irish in late 2021 and made 18 appearances in his rookie season and 19 matches in his second season with London Irish. He will continue his career at Saracens after the World Cup.

The Marista from Mendoza has 24 test caps to his name. He is a starter in the test team with Michael Cheika happy to move him across the back-row. Aged just 22, González is certainly one to watch at this World Cup; do not be surprised to see his name become as well known as that of Kremer and Matera.

 

 

Santiago Chocobares – Inside Center

Former Jaguares captain Jerónimo de la Fuente has been a consistent performer for Los Pumas. Santiago Chocobares has arrived to seemingly overtake him for this World Cup. They both played for Duendes, the home club of de la Fuente. Chocobares first played for Pampas de Rufino.

Chocobares was on Los Jaguares roster in 2000. He was also initially on the Jaguares XV roster for SLAR 2021. His talent was spotted with Toulouse calling him. He has not looked back. Chocobares is a two-time French Top 14 champion.

Injuries are the explanation as to why Chocobares’ test cap total is presently limited to 8. Chocobares had an immediate mark on the international game. He made his test debut against New Zealand in the 2020 Rugby Championship. He played inside center and showed his offensive and defensive capabilities by giving his side go-froward ball and sending opposition runners backwards.

Having returned tot he field at the end of January, Chocoabres went on to play 12 matches for Toulouse this past season. He is now at full fitness and is ready to explode at the World Cup. The 24-year-old is a player of real potential; a notable weapon in the Pumas backline.

 

Lucio Cinti – Outside Center

Despite just being aged 23, Lucio Cinti has already accomplished a lot. He won Gold in Rugby Sevens at the 2018 Junior Olympics and Bronze as an adult at the Tokyo Olympic Games in 2021. The year 2021 also saw joining him London Irish.

Cinti made 15 appearances for London Irish in his rookie season and 20 in his second. With the club collapsing, Cinti will join Saracens after the World Cup. London Irish played Cinti in four positions – fullback, wing, inside center and outside center.

For Argentina, outside center has come to be his position. He played there and at inside center for Los Pumas in 2023. His performances in the 13 shirt saw Matías Orlando missing out on the World Cup and Matías Moroni becoming the second-choice to Cinti. His try-saving tackle against Australia and his clean-breaks suggest that the speed of Cinti is what has seen him secure the 13 shirt.

Cinti made hit Pumas debut against South Africa in 2021. He had been an unused replacement against New Zealand in the historic win in 2020. The native of La Plata goes to the World Cup with 16 caps to his name.

 

Mateo Carreras – Wing

Explosive winger Mateo Carreras will ask questions of the opposition at the World Cup. The 23-year-old was among the best wingers in England this past season. He scored 13 tries for the Newcastle Falcons in the 2022-2023 English Premiership. These included the try of the month winner in September and October. For Argentina he scored against Australia and South Africa.

Carreras’ form saw him earning a spot on Michael Cheika’s roster. Others had been preferred for the 2022 July Internationals and Rugby Championship. In November he became first choice with he and Emiliano Boffelli being the combination to start together at the World Cup.

The first of his 11 test caps caps was in the 2021 Rugby Championship against Australia in Townsville. Since then he has overtaken Santiago Cordero, Bautista Delguy and Juan Imhoff. Two of them missed out on a spot in the World Cup. Carreras’ explosiveness on attack and his bone-jarring tackles gave him an edge.

Carreras will fly the flag of Los Tarcos, a club from the northern Argentine city of Tucumán. He will be joined by veteran Nicolás Sánchez who is from Tucumán Lawn Tennis and Thomas Gallo from Universitario.