From Mendoza to Marseille, who will Los Pumas select?
With Los Pumas due to meet anytime soon to prepare for the first All Blacks Test in Argentina since 2018, Michael Cheika and his assistant coaches are still deciding on who will be in their large preparation squad ahead of The Rugby Championship and, soon after, Rugby World Cup.
Some have mentioned it could include up to 50 players, with squads being then named for each individual game or trip.
Whilst the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks (twice) await in the coming weeks, there have to be a number of doubts in the coaches’ minds about players that have not been playing much rugby in the past year.
Should they get those much-needed minutes in the toughest of competitions?
Should they risk it with players that have not yet been seen at Test level?
One thing is certain. The team will be very well led by Leicester Tigers hooker, and captain, Julián Montoya.
Going into his third Rugby World Cup, the first in which he will be the unchallenged first choice, his leadership will not only prove crucial in the buildup but even more so when tackling England in Marseille in the opening weekend.
First capped in 2014, and having done his apprenticeship under former captain Agustín Creevy – who should now be his understudy – he has the rare sensibility to handle those who are starting and those who aren’t. Sometimes that balance makes or breaks a team.
Of his first 57 tests, he only started in six. His hat trick against Tonga in Osaka four years ago was the start of a run of 27 starts out of the following 28, including two wins against the All Blacks in 2020 and 2022, but also a heavy defeat against them in Hamilton last year.
When the squad announcement is made – “any time soon,” they said at the UAR – there will be clarity on flanker Marcos Kremer, suspended for five weeks after almost decapitating an opponent in his last appearance for Stade Français. The giant will probably miss all of the Rugby Championship, but will certainly be back in time for the Rugby World Cup.
Pablo Matera, after seeing Scott Robertson do his winning breakdance as a Crusader in 2022, played his rugby in Japan’s second division. Much loved by the Honda Heat fans as he drove them to promotion, little is known of his future, only that France will be his third Rugby World Cup. It might be that the Rugby Championship is key in his return to top-level rugby.
The halfbacks carry a big question mark.
Tomás Cubelli, who was first choice in the last Rugby World Cup, has left Biarritz, in France’s ProD2, where he played little rugby in the last two years. It was recently announced that he will move to a newly created professional rugby club in Miami, USA, so this year will probably mark the end of his international career.
Gonzalo Bertranou, who has played the most under Cheika, did not have much game time due to an injury at the Dragons. In fact, he hasn’t played since January.
Olympic sevens medalist Lautaro Bazán Vélez and former U20s captain Gonzalo García have had injury-ridden seasons. The latter is only just returning from a long break.
Two left-field options would come from Super Rugby Americas, the new continental competition.
Former Puma Martín Landajo played for the American Raptors, out of Glendale, near Denver. He stood out in a team that was learning the rugby trade. At 35, he would be an ideal choice as an experienced extra hand.
Uncapped Ignacio Inchauspe showcased his ability at nine playing for Yacare XV, based in Asunción. The franchise shone the brightest when he was on song, which was for most of the tournament, where he was chosen in the Dream Team. His time will come, maybe not as soon as this squad announcement.
Nicolás Sánchez is aiming for a fourth Rugby World Cup but he is not in the frame as a starter. He was released by Stade Français mid-season and moved to Brive where he played a lot more than at the Parisian club. Yet, his side was relegated. His future could also be in Miami.
Gloucester’s Santiago Carreras will be the first choice. He only played half of his 20 club games at 10, but is growing in the role with every game and The Rugby Championship should confirm he is the solution moving forward.
Little known Joaquín de la Vega Mendía had a good Super Rugby Americas although in a team that did not set the tournament on fire. If there are three 10s, he might the third.
No longer a secret is that Luciano González and Rodrigo Isgro will be tested soon. Bronze medalists in Tokyo 2020 and standouts in Los Pumas 7s best-ever season, both have been unstoppable for the last couple of years. It will be interesting to see how quickly they readjust into the fifteens game.
With Santiago Chocobares and Juan Cruz Mallía most probably rested for the first part of the Championship having won France’s Top 14 with Toulouse, the sevens duo should see some early action at wing and/or centre.
Whilst it sounds strange that The Rugby Championship will act as preparation for Rugby World Cup, this will be the case for a squad that has not been formally together since a big loss against Scotland in Murrayfield last November.
Some have already been working at Los Pumas’ Buenos Aires headquarters.
It is a big year for Argentine rugby. When the squad is finally unveiled, the countdown will really start.
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
41 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
41 Go to commentsI’m not surprised by such ‘virtue signalling’ by Sonny Boy. Butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. He’s such a pious Islamic muppet, imo.
41 Go to commentsI’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
39 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
41 Go to comments