Argentina’s Rugby World Cup 2027 Selection Radar – ARN Guide

Felipe Contepomi has made adjustments to the roster he took over from Michael Cheika. A number of senior players are yet to play or have been overtaken while others. This has represented a shake-up as there are no signs of a hangover from the World Cup. This article investigates the picture now and who is and is not on Argentina’s selection radar for Rugby World Cup 2027.

 

MISSING IN 2024

Francisco Gómez Kodela (38 caps) has not officially retired from Los Pumas. Santiago Medrano (31 caps), Enrique Pieretto (25 caps), Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (78 caps), Facundo Gigena (7 caps) and Rodrigo Martínez (3 caps) have not been selected in 2024.

Agustín Creevy retired in August. Facundo Bosch (12 caps) and Santiago Socino (6 caps) have not been selected in 2024. Back-rowers Rodrigo Bruni (26 caps) and Francisco Gorrissen (2 caps) have not been selected. Facundo Isa (51 caps) has taken the year off.

Veteran fly half Nicolás Sánchez (104 caps) has not been selected nor has Domingo Miotti (5 caps). Scrum-half Tomás Cubelli (93 caps) was selected but forced out without playing. Contepomi opted for a new option rather than recalling center Lucas Mensa (3 caps).

Winger Juan Imhoff (44 caps) has not been selected. Rodrigo Isgró (3 caps) is yet to play but has been selected. Sebastián Cancelliere (8 caps) and Emiliano Boffelli (59 caps) have not played; Boffelli has missed out due to injury.

 

2024 SHAKE-UP

Francisco Coria Marchetti (1 cap) and Ignacio Calles (3 caps) were front-row replacements against Uruguay. Lucio Sordoni started against New Zealand in Auckland. Second-row alterations saw Pedro Rubiolo (15 caps) and rookie Franco Molina (6 caps) ahead of Lucas Paulos (14 caps), Matías Alemanno (96 caps), Guido Petti (84 caps), Tomás Lavanini (90 caps).

Paulos started once against France in July as did Martín Bogado (4 caps) but neither played in the Rugby Championship. Santiago Cordero was preferred to Bogado. Jerónimo de la Fuente (80 caps), and Matías Orlando (61 caps) played in July but not in the Rugby Championship while Matías Moroni (84 caps) moved to the wing against New Zealand.

 

RACE AGAINST TIME

Veterans are in a race against time. Others will join Creevy in retiring. Matías Alemanno has strongly hinted at retirement. Upon reaching 80 caps, Jerónimo de la Fuente implied that his involvement for Los Pumas in 2027 is in doubt. Utility was key for Matías Moroni in 2023 and again in 2024. However, age is catching-up. Playing in Japan will add to the chances of Pablo Matera featuring at RWC 2027.

 

2024 ROOKIE PUMAS

Debutant Pumas thus far in 2024 are tight head prop Francisco Coria Marchetti, second-rowers Franco Molina and Efraín Elías, and flanker / N8 Joaquín Moro. The present roster also contains uncapped hooker Bautista Pedemonte and center Justo Piccardo.

 

2024 PUMAS IN WAITING

Three categories of uncapped players can be identified under 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. Pedro Delgado joined the roster with Lucio Sordoni’s moving to France.

Second-rower Luciano Asevedo trained with Los Pumas before joining the Argentina XV. Flanker Nicolás D’Amorim, center Justo Piccardo and fullback Mateo Soler have also been on Contepomi’s rosters in 2024.

Retirement to Creevy coincides with Boris Wenger and Juan Greising Revol joining the Argentina XV. Fellow Argentina XV players Agustín Moyano and Santiago Pernas were stand-outs in Super Rugby Americas. Benjamín Elizalde joined the Bristol Bears. Elizalde and Gerónimo Prisciantelli are certainly on the selection radar for 2024.

 

ARGENTINA’S RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 RADAR

The initial RWC 2023 roster had 18 forwards and 15 backs. This model will be utilized here to project the selections as they most likely appear to be. 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 Mayco Vivas (Gloucester, UK)
Standby: Ignacio Calles (Pau, FR)

HOOKER
1 Julián Montoya (Leicester Tigers)
2 Ignacio Ruiz (Perpignan, FR)
3 Juan Greising Revol (Pumitas)
Standby: Bautista Bernasconi (Benetton, IT)

TIGHT HEAD
1 Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle, FR)
2 Eduardo Bello (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
3 Tomás Rapetti (Pumitas)
Standby: Lucio Sordoni (Racing 92, FR)

SECOND-ROW
1 Efraín Elías (Toulouse, FR)
2 Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle Falcons, UK)
3 Franco Molina (Exeter Chiefs, UK)
4 Tomás Lavanini (Lyon, FR)
Standby: Guido Petti (Bordeaux, FR)

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, UK)
6 Joaquín Moro (Pampas)
Standby: Juan Pedro Bernasconi (Pumitas)

BACKS: (15)

SCRUM-HALF
1 Gonzalo García (Zebre, IT)
2 Agustín Moyano (Dogos)
3 Gonzalo Bertranou (unattached)
Standby: Lautaro Bazán Vélez (Benetton, IT)

FLY HALF
1 Tomás Albornoz (Benetton, IT)
2 Santiago Carreras (Gloucester, UK)
Standby: Joaquín de la Vega Mendía (Colomiers, FR)

CENTERS
1 Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse, FR)
2 Lucio Cinti (Saracens, UK)
3 Justo Piccardo (Pampas)
Standby: Bruno Heit (Pampas)

BACK-THREE
1 Mateo Carreras (Bayonne, FR)
2 Juan Cruz Mallía (Toulouse, FR)
3 Rodrigo Isgró (Harlequins, UK)
4 Benjamín Elizalde (Bristol Bears, UK)
5 Ignacio Mendy (Benetton, IT)
6 Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh, UK)
Standby: Bautista Delguy (Clermont, FR)

 

PROJECTED PUMAS RWC 2027 LINE-UP

#	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION	CAPS
1	Thomas Gallo	Benetton (IT)	LH	30
2	Julián Montoya (capt.)	Leicester Tigers (UK)	HK	100
3	Joel Sclavi	La Rochelle (FR)	TH/LH	22
4	Efraín Elías	Toulouse (FR)	LO	1
5	Pedro Rubiolo	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	LO	15
6	Juan Martín González	Saracens (UK)	FL/N8	35
7	Marcos Kremer	Clermont (FR)	FL/LO	71
8	Joaquín Oviedo	Perpignan (FR)	N8	8
9	Gonzalo García	Zebre (IT)	SH	6
10	Tomás Albornoz	Benetton (IT)	FH	12
11	Mateo Carreras	Bayonne (FR)	WI	24
12	Santiago Chocobares	Toulouse (FR)	CE	19
13	Lucio Cinti	Saracens (UK)	CE/WI	27
14	Rodrigo Isgró	Harlequins (UK)	WI	3
15	Juan Cruz Mallía	Toulouse (FR)	FB	35
16	Ignacio Ruiz	Perpignan (FR)	HK	12
17	Mayco Vivas	Gloucester (UK)	LH	27
18	Eduardo Bello	Newcastle Falcons, (UK)	TH	27
19	Franco Molina	Exeter Chiefs (UK)	LO	7
20	Tomás Lavanini	Lyon (FR)	LO	90
21	Pablo Matera	Mie Honda Heat (JP)	FL	105
22	Agustín Moyano	Dogos	SH	–
23	Santiago Carreras	Gloucester (UK)	FH/FB	49

 

PROJECTED PUMAS RWC 2027 LINE-UP VS TIER 2

#	PLAYER	TEAM	POSITION	CAPS
1	Mayco Vivas	Gloucester (UK)	LH	27
2	Ignacio Ruiz	Perpignan (FR)	HK	12
3	Eduardo Bello	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	TH	27
4	Franco Molina	Exeter Chiefs (UK)	LO	7
5	Tomás Lavanini	Lyon (FR)	LO	90
6	Pablo Matera	Mie Honda Heat (JP)	FL	105
7	Santiago Grondona	Bristol Bears (UK)	FL	16
8	Joaquín Moro	Pampas	N8	1
9	Agustín Moyano	Dogos	SH	–
10	Santiago Carreras	Gloucester (UK)	FH	49
11	Emiliano Boffelli	Edinburgh (UK)	WI	59
12	Justo Piccardo	Pampas	CE	–
13	Benjamín Elizalde	Bristol Bears (UK)	CE/FB	–
14	Ignacio Mendy	Benetton (IT)	WI	2
15	Juan Cruz Mallía	Toulouse (FR)	FB	35
16	Juan Greising Revol	Pumitas	HK	–
17	Thomas Gallo	Benetton (IT)	LH	30
18	Tomás Rapetti	Pumitas	TH	–
19	Pedro Rubiolo	Newcastle Falcons (UK)	LO	15
20	Juan Martín González	Saracens (UK)	FL	35
21	Gonzalo Bertranou	Unattached	SH	64
22	Tomás Albornoz	Benetton (IT)	FH	12
23	Rodrigo Isgró	Harlequins (UK)	WI	3