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Felipe Contepomi’s first test match in charge of his beloved Los Pumas will be a home match against France in July. The match will be the first of a two-match series. It will be followed by a match against a Tier 2 opponent. The Tier 2 side remains unconfirmed with Uruguay being strongly linked as the team.
Contepomi’s Pumas will be preparing for the Rugby Championship while also coming together for the first time under his watch. Contepomi was assistant to Michael Cheika but will now be the one making all of the big decisions.
The July Internationals have been interpreted differently by prior Pumas coaches. Cheika, Mario Ledesma and Daniel Hourcade all approached the series’ differently. The pre-Jaguares Hourcade rested his Rugby Championship roster entirely. Ledesma began as Jaguares-only followed by marginal rotation while Cheika selected everyone he could from teams whose European club seasons finished relatively early.
Contepomi is likely to employ similar tactics to those of Cheika. This would mean the busiest talent would play less than others in July. Players from teams in the best performing clubs, especially those in the Top 14, will be less likely to be playing regularly in July. One test start is entirely reasonable but three will simply be prevented.
The 2023-2024 season has sees many players putting up their hands for international duty. The form radar points sees a growing base of players to consider. Quite simply, Contepomi will be spoiled for choice in some positions. This will help with the balancing act of preparing for the Rugby Championship while resting players due to World Rugby’s lack of providing players with a global season.
PROJECTED JULY ROSTER (36)
Forwards: (19)
Thomas Gallo (Benetton, IT), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR), Mayco Vivas (Gloucester, UK), Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, UK), Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR), Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton, IT), Francisco Gómez Kodela (Stade Français, FR), Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Lucio Sordoni (Glasgow Warriors, UK), Matías Alemanno (Gloucester, UK), Tomás Lavanini (Clermont, FR), Guido Petti (Bordeaux, FR), Lucas Paulos (Bayonne, FR), Marcos Kremer (Clermont, FR), Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan, FR), Juan Martín González (Saracens, UK), Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Rodrigo Bruni (Bayonne, FR), Facundo Isa, (Toulon, FR).
Backs: (17)
Gonzalo García (Zebre, IT), Lautaro Bazán Vélez (Rovigo, IT), Agustín Moyano (Dogos), Domingo Miotti (Oyonnax, FR), Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Zebre, IT), Nicolás Sánchez (Tokyo Sungoliath, JP), Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan, FR), Matías Moroni (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR), Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK), Mateo Carreras (Newcastle Falcons, UK), Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR), Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh, UK), Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT), Santiago Carreras (Gloucester, UK), Martín Bogado (Highlanders, NZ, Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR).
The projected roster includes uncapped players Bautista Bernasconi, Agustín Moyano and Gerónimo Prisciantelli. It also includes players who did not play for Argentina in 2023. Bautista Delguy, Gonzalo García, Ignacio Mendy and Domingo Miotti are examples.
There are also some positional changes. Joel Sclavi is listed as a loose head rather than a tight head prop. Pedro Rubiolo is included as a flanker rather than a second-rower. Santiago Carreras is included as a fullback covering fly half rather than a specialist in the latter of the two positions.
There are also missing names which require an explanation. Rodrigo Isgró is not considered due to his involvement with Los Pumas 7’s at the Paris Olympic Games in July. It is a waiting game on Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Pablo Matera, Santiago Grondona and Gonzalo Bertranou. All would be listed if at full-fitness.
PROJECTED PUMAS LINE-UP
| # | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
| 1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 23 |
| 2 | Julián Montoya (capt.) | Leicester Tigers (UK) | HK | 95 |
| 3 | Eduardo Bello | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | TH | 21 |
| 4 | Guido Petti | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 82 |
| 5 | Tomás Lavanini | Clermont (FR) | LO | 86 |
| 6 | Juan Martín González | Saracens (UK) | FL/N8 | 31 |
| 7 | Marcos Kremer | Clermont (FR) | FL/LO | 64 |
| 8 | Rodrigo Bruni | Bayonne (FR) | N8 | 26 |
| 9 | Gonzalo García | Zebre (IT) | SH | 3 |
| 10 | Domingo Miotti | Oyonnax (FR) | FH | 5 |
| 11 | Mateo Carreras | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | WI | 17 |
| 12 | Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 13 |
| 13 | Lucio Cinti | Saracens (UK) | CE/WI | 23 |
| 14 | Emiliano Boffelli | Edinburgh (UK) | WI/FB | 59 |
| 15 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | FH/FB/WI | 42 |
The projected Pumas line-up is the side that could take to the field in the event that every first-choice player per position is available early for the coaching staff. Julián Montoya is listed as team captain. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Pablo Matera, Santiago Grondona and Gonzalo Bertranou are considered unavailable at this stage.
Montoya is joined by Thomas Gallo and Eduardo Bello up-front. Joel Sclavi covers both prop positions while Lucio Sordoni is now in contention for a place in the 23. The young Ignacio Ruiz is preferred to a veteran such as Agustín Creevy, Santiago Socino or Facundo Bosch as the understudy hooker.
The Second-row sees the regular pair for the majority of the 2015-2023 era together. Matías Alemanno has said that he will not play in another Rugby World Cup. However, the key reason is simply how well everyone is playing.
Juan Martín González was named as Saracens’ MVP for December 2023. Marcos Kremer was voted as Puma of the year for 2023. They are the duo for the flankers with Rodrigo Bruni playing N8. Joaquín Oviedo has been in fine form this season and is rewarded with a place on the bench.
The backs see changes in the halves. Bertranou’s injuries together with the test retirement of Tomás Cubelli and the form of Gonzalo García come together to see a fresh face at scrum-half. The crystal-ball sees Contepomi looking to a genuine fly half and rewards Domingo Miotti with his form in the Top 14.
The center pairing is unchanged from the World Cup. The back-three sees the same two wingers while Santiago Carreras is positioned at fullback ahead of fellow Cordobés Juan Cruz Mallía. The latter is on the bench as is the uncapped Geronimo Prisciantelli who made the roster ahead of Tomás Albornoz.
The two oldest Pumas from Rugby World Cup 2023 were Agustín Creevy and Francisco Gómez Kodela. Both remain playing at the elite level and are open to additional opportunities with Los Pumas. If Creevy is to play test rugby in 2023 then the Rugby Championship is the time; two younger options are considers ahead of him for July. On the other hand, ARN understands that Gómez Kodela will retire later in 2024.
| # | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
| 16 | Ignacio Ruiz | Perpignan (FR) | HK | 6 |
| 17 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH/LH | 18 |
| 18 | Francisco Gómez Kodela | Stade Français (FR) | TH | 38 |
| 19 | Matías Alemanno | Gloucester (UK) | LO | 93 |
| 20 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | FL/N8 | 2 |
| 21 | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | Rovigo (IT) | SH | 13 |
| 22 | Gerónimo Prisciantelli* | Zebre (IT) | FH/FB/CE | – |
| 23 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | FB/CE | 32 |
SAMPLE ALTERNATE LINE-UP VS TIER 2
| # | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
| 1 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH/LH | 18 |
| 2 | Ignacio Ruiz | Perpignan (FR) | HK | 6 |
| 3 | Lucio Sordoni | Glasgow Warriors (UK) | TH | 4 |
| 4 | Matías Alemanno | Gloucester (UK) | LO | 93 |
| 5 | Lucas Paulos | Bayonne (FR) | LO | 12 |
| 6 | Pedro Rubiolo | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | FL/LO | 10 |
| 7 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | FL/N8 | 2 |
| 8 | Facundo Isa | Toulon (FR) | N8/FL | 51 |
| 9 | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | Rovigo (IT) | SH | 13 |
| 10 | Geronimo Prisciantelli* | Zebre (IT) | FH/FB/CE | – |
| 11 | Bautista Delguy | Clermont (FR) | WI | 25 |
| 12 | Jerónimo de la Fuente (Capt.) | Perpignan (FR) | CE | 78 |
| 13 | Matías Moroni | Newcastle Falcons (UK) | CE | 80 |
| 14 | Ignacio Mendy | Benetton (IT) | WI/FB | 1 |
| 15 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | FB/CE | 32 |
The sample alternate line-up is that which could take to the field in an entirely changed line-up if that were to be desired by the coaching staff. It is mainly a mixture of replacements from the projected Pumas line-up and names on the roster who were not in the 23.
In addition to rotation, there is some carry-over. Marcos Kremer is listed as a replacement to cover the second-row but could come in at flanker with Pedro Rubiolo moving to the second-row. Juan Martín González is the replacement flanker but is also considered the go-to man from the replacements as a lineout option.
Jerónimo de la Fuente is named as captain. This is nothing new for him. He has World Cup captaincy experience as well as having captained teams in Super Rugby and in the Top 14. He is joined by fellow veteran Matías Moroni. They know each other inside and out; they started together in Leicester against Tonga in the World Cup in 2015.
Bautista Delguy and Ignacio Mendy are in fine form this season for Clermont and Benetton respectively. They have earned test recalls. Juan Imhoff will be 36 before the July Internationals. Martín Bogado looked good for Argentina and the Highlanders in 2023. He merits consideration for a test start in 2024 but is placed as a replacement with Juan Cruz Mallía listed at fullback.
The halves see Lautaro Bazán Vélez backing up from the World Cup and the currently uncapped Gerónimo Prisciantelli joining him at fly half. It should be noted that Italy will very likely cap Prisciantelli if Argentina do not do so first. The uncapped Agustín Moyano impressed in 2023 and is one to watch out for in 2024.
| # | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
| 16 | Bautista Bernasconi* | Benetton (IT) | HK | – |
| 17 | Mayco Vivas | Gloucester (UK) | LH | 20 |
| 18 | Francisco Gómez Kodela | Stade Français (FR) | TH | 38 |
| 19 | Marcos Kremer | Clermont (FR) | FL/LO | 64 |
| 20 | Juan Martín González | Saracens (UK) | FL/N8 | 31 |
| 21 | Agustín Moyano* | Dogos | SH | – |
| 22 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (UK) | FH/FB/WI | 42 |
| 23 | Martín Bogado | Highlanders (NZ) | FB | 3 |
* Test Debut
