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Juan Cruz Mallía is in majestic form for Toulouse. The Puma from Córdoba scored a double for Top 14 Giants Toulouse against Castres on Saturday. The double followed a try one week earlier against Clermont.
His first score against Castres opened the scoring. The 4th minute try saw him splitting the defense to run in a solo try from 38 meters. His second came in the 49th minute. Scrum-half Paul Graou broke down the left with Mallía providing a support run for a simple try. Toulouse were 33-6 winners.
Toulouse are well-placed for an appearance in the Top 14 play-off’s. The club are presently joint leaders with Stade Français on 55 competition points.
Mallía has played inside center, outside center, wing, fullback and fly half for Toulouse. He has demonstrated an ability of being a finisher and a play-maker. Injury to Romain Ntamack and Thomas Ramos are two reasons for playing the Argentine at fullback. However, Scotland’s Blair Kinghorn is also at the club and, unlike Mallía, has test starts at flyhallf.
For Argentina his regular position under Michael Cheika in 2022-2023 was fullback. Mallía was named on Felipe Contepomi’s first Pumas roster. He was the only specialist fullback. The fly halves selected are the incumbent Santiago Carreras and Tomás Albornoz. The latter was not selected for the World Cup.
Hie form at fly half for Toulouse certainly rises the question of him playing fly half for Los Pumas? Due to the date of the Top 14 Final, Mallía may not be available for home series against France in July. Perhaps he could be an option for the soon to be confirmed test match between Argentina and Uruguay in late July.
