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Officially there are 59 players who have been identified for RWC 2023. They are the players recently selected by Mario Ledesma. His roster contained a mix of players based at home and abroad. There were fourteen players who play in Europe.
Ledesma included four or more players across all positions. Of the missing players the name Juan Imhoff was genuinely striking. The assumption is that he was not included because is he 32. There were older players in other positions, but the oldest wing is Ramiro Moyano and the oldest fullback is Joaquín Tuculet.
The non-selection of Imhoff means his final test is likely to remain the RWC 2015 Semi Final against Australia. Asked about the situation Juan Imhoff told Alejo Miranda that there are no regulations. The Racing 92 winger noted:
“There are no rules today. Any player that is in form can be called-up from any part of the world.”
Imhoff debuted in 2010 and made four appearances at RWC 2011. In the cited interview he mentioned Lucas Borges, a starting player at RWC 2007 who earned his final cap in November 2010. Imhoff notes that Head Coach Santiago Phelan included Borges in training, giving him the opportunity to prove himself. Why has the same has not happened for Imhoff for 2023?
Ledesma’s roster contains some examples similar to Borges. There are names who may be settled in the match day 23 at present who have competition for places for 2023. In other words, Ledesma’s 59-man long list is a Los Pumas guide for Project RWC 2023.
Above all else, Ledesma’s project 2023 is an objective approach for Los Pumas. A lot could change; players not included may replace some included. They know who is above them and the 59 players all now know who they are up against. Players can be penciled in, yet there are unknowns in all positions. 31 will make the cut.
At loose head prop Ledesma included six players. Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro and Mayco Vivas are the two from RWC 2019. The inclusion of uncapped Ignacio Calles and Facundo Gigena from Europe raises the question: has having one Super Rugby team held back props?
Facundo Bosch left Jaguares for France and is now well established at a top side, La Rochelle. He is seven years younger than fellow hooker Agustín Creevy who, like Tetaz Chaparro will not be favored by age come RWC 2023. Has Ledesma penciled in Bosch with Julián Montoya and Santiago Socino for 2023?
Ledesma also looked to Europe for tight head props. Three of the seven play abroad. One is Francisco Gómez Kodela, a player last capped in 2013. Ledesma started Juan Figallo at RWC 2019. His retirement coincides with Joel Sclavi returning from France for Super Rugby. The starting tight head for 2023 is very unclear.
The debate will rage on as to which players should be playing for Argentina now and in 2023. Tomás Lavanini’s disciplinary record will be a part of the discussion. All other second-rowers are Jaguares or Ceibos. Rodrigo Fernández Criado is one instance of a non-Jaguar that could overtake names currently ahead of him.
Pablo Matera and Facundo Isa are the back-rowers based abroad. The latter missed RWC 2019 to favor Jaguares’ Rodrigo Bruni and Javier Ortega Desio. The latter will be 33 in 2023. He is up against Francisco Gorrissen, Santiago Grondona and Juan Bautista Pedemonte. Watch this space.
Martín Landajo was left out in favor of Gonzalo García, a player ten years younger than Tomás Cubelli and eleven than Landajo. Although Ledesma limited his options to four, many scenarios exist for scrum half. Indeed Gonzalo Bertranou will be 29 come RWC 2023 and Cubelli will be 34.
Nicolás Sánchez and Benjamín Urdapilleta played at RWC 2029, but they will be 34 and 37 in 2023. Joaquin Díaz Bonilla played vs South Africa in 2019, yet he will also be 34 in 2023. Hence, Ledesma’s three other fly halves, all of whom are newcomers, are arguably the best positioned. Tomás Albornoz, Domingo Miotti and Patricio Fernández will be in their prime me RWC 2023 aged 26, 27 and 28 respectively.
The one area in which Ledesma did not select from Europe is the mid-field. Centers Jerómino de la Fuente, Matías Orlando and Matías Moroni all turn 32 in 2023. Lucas Mensa and Juan Cruz Mallía were understudies at RWC 2023; this may end well before 2023. Juan Pablo Castro is also in the 59 as is Santiago Chocobares, a player who could certainly be a regular starting Pumas center.
‘Jaguares first’ saw Imhoff and Santiago Cordero miss RWC 2019. It also saw Moroni played out of position on the wing. Ramiro Moyano lost his spot during the tournament and Sebastián Cancelliere was not selected. Cordero was the talking point and additional caps are certain. He and Emiliano Boffelli and Bautista Delguy are proven wingers.
Boffelli may play wing, he may play fullback, or possibly outside center. Officially he joins Joaquín Tuculet, and, young fullbacks, Santiago Carreras, Mateo Carreras and Juan Bautista Daireaux. Tuculet will be 34 in 2023, six years older than the Boffelli.
Who will be the team come RWC 2023? Nobody knows, though the pressure is truly on the established players now; something that the Jaguares-Pumas project prevented in 2016.
