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The race is on and the end is in sight. After a wait of over a century, Los Pumas have players closing in on the mark of 100 test caps. The year 2022 concludes with Agustín Creevy, Pablo Matera and Nicolás Sánchez all having more than 90 caps.
If Creevy reaches 100 caps in 2023 it will be at the age of 38. Michael Cheika utilized a number of hookers in 2022. Creevy, Santiago Socino and rookie Ignacio Ruiz all served as understudies to Julián Montoya. The Pumas captain ended the year on 85 caps to be tied with Mario Ledesma.
Sánchez played two test matches in 2022, a lower number than Creevy. The former Pumas captain earned his 95th cap for Argentina against South Africa and now has 97 caps. Sánchez is thus now the second most capped Puma in history. He earned his 95th cap on Argentina’s end-of-year tour of Great Britain.
He needs to play five in 2023 to reach the mark of 100 caps. Cheika’s first-choice fly half is Santiago Carreras. Sánchez, Benjamín Urdapilleta and Tomás Albornoz all played as his replacement during the year. Albornoz is favored as the understudy in 2023.
Matera is notably younger than both Creevy and Sánchez. He ended 2022 on 91 caps. He was a constant in Los Pumas in 2022; he played Super Rugby for the Crusaders which simplified his selection. He ended 2022 playing in Japan, a move which also makes him an easy call-up for Cheika.
If Matera remains a starter in the team in 2023 then he has a clear pathway to 100 caps. Argentina are scheduled to play four test matches before the World Cup. If Argentina get through the pool, by doing well in their group against England, Samoa, Chile and Japan, then Matera could, in theory, earn his 100th cap in what would be a Quarter Final.
The present list of most test caps is shown in the table below.
| PLAYER | POS | YEARS | CAPS |
| Agustín Creevy | HK | 2005- | 97 |
| Nicolás Sánchez | FH | 2010- | 95 |
| Pablo Matera | N8 | 2013- | 91 |
| Tomás Cubelli | SH | 2010- | 88 |
| Felipe Contepomi | CE | 1998-2013 | 87 |
| Juan Manuel Leguizamón | N8 | 2005-2019 | 87 |
| Lisandro Arbizu | CE | 1990-2005 | 86 |
| Rolando Martín | FL | 1994-2003 | 86 |
| Mario Ledesma | HK | 1996-2011 | 85 |
| Julián Montoya | HK | 2014- | 85 |
| Matías Alemanno | LO | 2014- | 84 |
| Martín Landajo | SH | 2008-2018 | 84 |
| Tomás Lavanini | LO | 2013- | 78 |
| Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro | LH | 2010- | 76 |
| Jerónimo de la Fuente | CE | 2014- | 74 |
| Guido Petti | LO | 2014- | 73 |
| Matías Moroni | CE | 2014- | 69 |
As noted, Tomás Cubelli is two short of 90 caps. He overtook six former Pumas in 2022. Of them both Felipe Contepomi and Juan Manuel Leguizamón retired on the mark of 87 caps.
Other names are well-placed to move up in 2023. Montoya is expected to overtake Mario Ledesma, Rolando Martín, Lisandro Arbizu, Juan Manuel Leguziamón and Felipe Contepomi in 2023. Depending on selection, he may also overtake active Pumas.
Matías Alemanno is one cap behind Montoya. The Gloucester second-rower is also on target to overtake the same retired Pumas as Montoya and to pass the mark of 90 caps in 2023. His regular second-rower partner in 2022, Tomás Lavanini is two short of 80 caps.
Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro is the first Pumas prop to reach 75 test matches. He ended 2022 with 76 to his name. He is two ahead of Jerónimo de la Fuente and three ahead of Guido Petti. All three are expected to be heavily involved for their country in 2023. Matías Moroni is one away from 70 caps and thus has the mark of 75 in his reach should he play in a third Rugby World Cup.
