The rookie season of Los Pumas under Felipe Contepomi brought with it on-field progress in terms of results and of the re-shaping the team. Argentina enjoyed unprecedented success in the 2024 Rugby Championship. This article analyses the picture now and who is and is not on Argentina’s selection radar for Rugby World Cup 2027.
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1 Thomas Gallo (11); Mayco Vivas (1)
2 Julián Montoya (10); Ignacio Ruiz (2)
3 Joel Sclavi (7); Eduardo Bello (4); Lucio Sordoni (1)
4 Franco Molina (6); Guido Petti (3); Marcos Kremer (1); Pedro Rubiolo (1); Matías Alemanno (1)
5 Pedro Rubiolo (8); Tomás Lavanini (2); Lucas Paulos (2)
6 Pablo Matera (9); Juan Martín Gonzalez (2); Joaquin Moro (1)
7 Marcos Kremer (7); Juan Martín González (3); Santiago Grondona (2)
8 Joaquín Oviedo (9); Juan Martín González (3)
9 Gonzalo Bertranou (9); Gonzalo Garcia (2); Lautaro Bazán Vélez (1)
10 Tomás Albornoz (7); Santiago Carreras (5)
11 Mateo Carreras (9); Bautista Delguy (3)
12 Santiago Chocobares (7); Jerónimo de la Fuente (2); Matías Moroni (2); Matías Orlando (1)
13 Lucio Cinti (8); Matías Moroni (3); Santiago Chocobares (1)
14 Bautista Delguy (4); Rodrigo Isgró (4); Matías Moroni (2); Ignacio Mendy (1); Santiago Cordero (1)
15 Juan Cruz Mallía (8); Santiago Cordero (2); Martín Bogado (1); Santiago Carreras (1)
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1 Thomas Gallo
2 Julián Montoya (capt.)
3 Joel Sclavi
4 Franco Molina
5 Pedro Rubiolo
6 Pablo Matera
7 Marcos Kremer
8 Joaquín Oviedo
9 Gonzalo Bertranou
10 Tomás Albornoz
11 Mateo Carreras
12 Santiago Chocobares
13 Lucio Cinti
14 Bautista Delguy
15 Juan Cruz Mallía
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Contepomi’s selections in 2024 differed to those from Michael Cheika for the World Cup. The second-row selections signify that pressure is on the trio of Matías Alemanno (98 caps), Tomás Lavanini (91 caps) and Lucas Paulos (14 caps). All play for elite clubs in Europe and age will not block any of them from featuring in Australia 2027.
Loose head prop selections did not include Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (78 caps) in 2024. Injury meant he was not considered. He is, as are, Tight Heads Lucio Sordoni (7 caps) and Santiago Medrano (31 caps) in a race against time. Sordoni was underused and Medrano not used at all by Contepomi in 2024.
World Cup 2023 N8’s Rodrigo Bruni (26 caps) and Facundo Isa (51 caps) wanted time off after a busy World Cup year. Both are now behind the eight-ball for a return to the test arena. Francisco Gorrissen (2 caps) had a call-up without actually earning a cap in 2024.
Scrum-half Lautaro Bazán Vélez (18 caps) was not a starter but was busy for Argentina at the World Cup. He fell down the order with Gonzalo García now in command followed by Gonzalo Bertranou. Tomás Cubelli (93 caps) is unlikely to play in another World Cup. Fly half has seen Tomás Albornoz’s profile boom while Domingo Miotti (5 caps) appears not to be in Contepomi’s planning.
Veteran centers Matías Orlando (62 caps) and Jeronimo de la Fuente (80 caps) can both play at Rugby World Cup 2027 as can Matías Moroni (89 caps). However, only Moroni had a bust 2024 for Argentina. The notably younger Santiago Chocobares (27 caps) and Lucio Cinti (32 caps) are firmly cemented as the starting mid-field.
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First test caps were awarded to tight head props Francisco Coria Marchetti and Pedro Delgado in 2024. The right prop position is of note as Francisco Gómez Kodela earned a recall aged 40 in November. No loose head prop nor hooker debuted for Los Pumas in 2024.
Second-rowers Franco Molina and Efraín Elías both debuted in 2024. Molina, Thomas Gallo and Tomás Albornoz were the only three men who played in all twelve matches for Argentina. Elías moved to Toulouse immediately after his debut.
Flanker Bautista Pedemonte debuted in the first match of the year and earned a second cap in November. N8 Joaquín Moro debuted in the third test match of the year, doing so at flanker, and did not play again for Argentina. Center Justo Piccardo was the one debutant in November.
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Three categories of uncapped players can be classified according to the terminology ‘Pumas in waiting’. First, uncapped players on Felipe Contepomi’s rosters. Second, some players on the Argentina XV roster. Third, players yet to be selected for either who have played well since Rugby World Cup 2023.
Bautista Bernasconi missed out in July through injury. Ignacio Calles thus played as replacement hooker vs Uruguay. He had additional involvement but no caps. Agustín Creevy’s retirement reinforces the likelihood of his debut. Boris Wenger and Juan Greising Revol are expected names on the radar and ones to watch in 2025.
Second-rower Luciano Asevedo trained with Los Pumas before joining the Argentina XV. Flankers Benjamín Grondona and Nicolás D’Amorim, winger Santiago Pernas and fullbacks Benjamín Elizalde and Mateo Soler were also called-up but did not play. Utility back Gerónimo Prisciantelli was close to debuting in November.
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The initial RWC 2023 roster had 18 forwards and 15 backs. This model is adhered to below to project the selections as they most likely appear to be at the start of the second year of the cycle. Considerations include (a) Felipe Contepomi’s selections thus far, (b) player age in 2027, (c) overall form and class of players across all positions and (d) stand-out domestic-based / Super Rugby Americas and u20 performers.
FORWARDS: (18)
LOOSE HEAD
1 Thomas Gallo (Benetton, IT)
2 Ignacio Calles (Pau, FR)
Standby 1: Mayco Vivas (Gloucester, GB-ENG)
Standby 2: Rodrigo Martínez (Dragons, GB-CYM)
HOOKER
1 Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers, GB-ENG)
2 Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR)
3 Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton, IT)
Standby 1: Juan Greising Revol (Dogos)
Standby 2: Facundo Bosch (Bayonne, FR)
TIGHT HEAD
1 Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR)
2 Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
3 Tomás Rapetti (Pampas)
Standby 1: Lucio Sordoni (Racing 92, FR)
Standby 2: Francisco Corria Marchetti (Brive, FR)
SECOND-ROW
1 Efraín Elías (Toulouse, FR)
2 Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
3 Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs, GB-ENG)
4 Guido Petti (Bordeaux, FR)
Standby 1: Tomás Lavanini (Lyon, FR)
Standby 2: Matías Alemanno (Gloucester, GB-ENG)
BACK-ROW
1 Marcos Kremer (Clermont, FR)
2 Juan Martín González (Saracens, UK)
3 Joaquín Oviedo (Perpignan, FR)
4 Pablo Matera (Mie Honda Heat, JP)
5 Santiago Grondona (Bristol Bears, GB-ENG)
6 Joaquín Moro (Pampas)
Standby 1: Bautista Pedemonte (Vannes, FR)
Standby 2: Francisco Gorrissen (Vannes, FR)
BACKS: (15)
SCRUM-HALF
1 Gonzalo García (Zebre Parma, IT)
2 Agustín Moyano (Dogos)
3 Gonzalo Bertranou (Los Angeles, US)
Standby 1: Lautaro Bazán Vélez (Benetton, IT)
Standby 2: Eliseo Morales (Pampas)
FLY HALF
1 Tomás Albornoz (Benetton, IT)
2 Santiago Carreras (Gloucester, UK)
3 Gerónimo Prisciantelli (Zebre Parma, IT)
Standby 1: Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (Colomiers, FR)
Standby 2: Domingo Miotti (Montpellier, FR)
CENTER
1 Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR)
2 Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK)
3 Matías Moroni (Brive, FR)
4 Justo Piccardo (Pampas)
Standby 1 : Matías Orlando (Miami Sharks, US)
Standby 2: Jerónimo de la Fuente (Perpignan, FR)
WING
1 Mateo Carreras (Bayonne, FR)
2 Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR)
3 Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, GB-ENG)
Standby 1: Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT)
Standby 2: Santiago Cordero (Connacht, IE)
FULLBACK
1 Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR)
2 Benjamín Elizalde (Bristol Bears, GB-ENG)
Standby: Emiliano Boffelli (GB-SCO)
Standby 2: Martín Bogado (Oyonnax, FR)
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# | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
1 | Thomas Gallo | Benetton (IT) | LH | 35 |
2 | Julián Montoya (Capt.) | Leicester Tigers (GB-ENG) | HK | 105 |
3 | Joel Sclavi | La Rochelle (FR) | TH | 27 |
4 | Efraín Elías | Toulouse (FR) | LO | 1 |
5 | Pedro Rubiolo | Bristol Bears (GB-ENG) | LO | 20 |
6 | Juan Martín González | Saracens (GB-ENG) | FL | 40 |
7 | Marcos Kremer | Clermont (FR) | FL/LO | 73 |
8 | Joaquín Oviedo | Perpignan (FR) | N8 | 13 |
9 | Gonzalo García | Zebre Parma (IT) | SH | 11 |
10 | Tomás Albornoz | Benetton (IT) | SH | 17 |
11 | Mateo Carreras | Bayonne (FR) | WI | 27 |
12 | Santiago Chocobares | Toulouse (FR) | CE | 27 |
13 | Lucio Cinti | Saracens (GB-ENG) | CE | 32 |
14 | Bautista Delguy | Clermont (FR) | WI | 33 |
15 | Juan Cruz Mallía | Toulouse (FR) | FB | 42 |
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# | PLAYER | TEAM | POSITION | CAPS |
1 | Ignacio Calles | Pau (FR) | LH | 8 |
2 | Ignacio Ruiz | Perpignan (FR) | HK | 17 |
3 | Eduardo Bello | Newcastle Falcons (GB-ENG) | TH | 27 |
4 | Guido Petti | Bordeaux (FR) | LO | 87 |
5 | Franco Molina | Exeter Chiefs (GB-ENG) | LO | 12 |
6 | Pablo Matera (Capt.) | Mie Honda Heat (JP) | FL | 109 |
7 | Santiago Grondona | Bristol Bears (GB-ENG) | FL | 19 |
8 | Joaquín Moro | Pampas | N8/FL | 1 |
9 | Agustín Moyano | Dogos | SH | – |
10 | Santiago Carreras | Gloucester (GB-ENG) | FH/FB | 53 |
11 | Benjamín Elizalde | Bristol Bears (GB-ENG) | WI/FB | – |
12 | Justo Piccardo | Pampas | CE | 1 |
13 | Matías Moroni | Brive (FR) | CE/WI | 89 |
14 | Rodrigo Isgró | Harlequins (GB-ENG) | WI | 7 |
15 | Gerónimo Prisciantelli | Zebre Parma (IT) | FB/FH/CE | – |