Los Pumas player ratings vs Samoa | Rugby World Cup 2023
Los Pumas are still alive at the Rugby World Cup after sneaking past a valiant Samoa outfit 19-10 in Saint-Etienne on Friday evening.
Playing in front of more than 35,000 passionate supporters, Argentina took control as they raced out to a 10-point lead in the 24th minute. But there was plenty of fight in this Samoan side.
Samoa fought their way back and made it a six point game with just over five minutes to play, but the boot of Nicolas Sanchez secured the win for Argentina.
- Juan Cruz Mallia – 7
By the time Juan Cruz Mallia left the field, the fullback had run the most metres out of any player – that goes for both the Argentine and Samoan players. Mallia showcased his impressive attacking ability with almost 70 running metres from seven carries, and the outside back also beat one defender.
The fullback also impressed on the defensive side of the ball with four tackles and zero misses. Mallia’s rating would’ve been higher if he hadn’t conceded two turnovers.
- Emiliano Boffelli – 7.5
Emiliano Boffelli sent the Argentina-dominated crowd into a frenzy in the 9th minute as he danced past a couple of Samoan defenders to score the opening try. This ended up being Boffelli’s only carry in the opening 20 minutes, but the wing had more than made the most of it.
Boffelli made a big hit or two on the defensive side of the ball, and was on the wrong end of some spinetingling tackles as well. It wasn’t Boffelli’s best night in the famous blue and white strip, but with 16 points to his name, it was far from a bad performance.
- Matias Moroni – 5.5
Matias Moroni was kept very quiet during the first half especially, and while things improved after the break, it wouldn’t be fair to say that the change was significant. Moroni was kept to less than 30 running metres and missed almost 50 per cent of his attempts on the defensive side of the ball.
Just like his centre partner, Santiago Chocobares wasn’t able to make a significant impact on this test. Chocobares showed glimpses of promise and significance, but it wasn’t exactly a brilliant performance either.
- Mateo Carreras – 7
Mateo Carreras looked lethal every time he touched the ball. The wing ran for almost 60 metres off nine carries in the first half alone, which included an eye-catching half-break down the left edge in about the 39th minute.
Carreras had laid the foundations for what looked to be a great performance from the 23-year-old, but things slowed down. The ball didn’t really come the wingers’ way during the second half, and sometimes that’s how the cards fall.
- Santiago Carreras – 6.5
Thousands of fans in Saint-Etienne paused in unison after Pumas flyhalf Santiago Carreras was upended in an ugly incident inside the opening minute. Thankfully, the playmaker was able to continue after avoiding injury.
Carreras made a careless mistake about 10 minutes later, though, as the 25-year-old kicked the ball out on the full from inside his own 22 – Los Pumas had carried the ball back. The pivot made another troubling error shortly after with a wayward pass finding the grass inside Argentina’s in-goal.
But there was plenty to like about Santiago Carreras on Friday night. Without obsessing over errors or shortcomings, the pivot let the team around the park with both skill and poise. Carreras was a reliable playmaker for Los Pumas, and even caused some headaches with clever carries of his own.
Some might not agree with this, others might, but halfback Gonzalo Bertranou was one of the Pumas’ best during the opening quarter of this test. Bertranou was able to control Argentina’s quick pace of play with accurate passing and clever thinking.
The test took a turn for both Argentina and Bertranou during the second half as Samoa fought back in desperation. Bertranou was unable to have the same impact on the test but was still strong as the link between the backs and forwards.
- Thomas Gallo – 7
Thomas Gallo put in a shift against Samoa. The prop worked tirelessly around the park, and would be more than deserving of the ‘work-horse’ moniker as a result. For a frontrunner to truly stand out for what he did at the breakdown is incredible.
In the 32nd minute, Los Pumas had the ball inside Samoa’s 22 metres, and it seemed like Gallo was competing at every breakdown. That passage of play practically sums up the front-rowers promising performance in Saint-Etienne.
Gallo’s moment of the night came in the 40th minute with the prop making a half-break 15 metres in from the left touchline – there was even a glimpse of what appeared to be a goose step!
- Julian Montoya – 7.5
Julian Montoya is the type of player that any team would love to have as they charge into rugby battle. Montoya, as he always does without fail, leads by example during a tough night for Los Pumas. The hooker was sensational at the set-piece as he hit all of his targets, and was also effective around the field with some strong carries.
- Eduardo Bello – 6.5
Eduardo Bello packed down with purpose and intent at the set-piece, but the prop was especially impressive around the field of play. Bello led the way for the Argentine front row with five carries and 100 per cent tackle completion by the half-time break. The Pumas enforcer made a brief cameo in the second half but was replaced after just a few minutes.
- Guido Petti – 6
Second-rower Guido Petti made his mark just before the half-time break. With Los Pumas on the back foot, Petti rose high to snatch a lineout off Samoa’s lineout. Samoa were less than 10 metres away from the Argentine try line, so who’s to say how the test might’ve changed if the lineout had gone to plan?
Other than that, Petti was strong on attack but quiet on the other side of the ball. The lock carried the ball eight times for hard-earned metres but was almost non-existent in defence.
- Matias Alemanno – 6
Lock Matias Alemanno had a decent night out in Saint-Etienne. The lock put plenty of pressure on Samoa’s lineout – but was penalised once while reaching out for a steal. Alemanno ran the ball six times and made two tackles before leaving the field midway through the second term.
- Pablo Matera – 7
World-class flanker Pablo Matera was uncharacteristically quiet during a tense first term in Saint-Etienne, but things changed after the break in a big way. Matera won a turnover at the breakdown in the 44th minute – his first major involvement in the test – and just got better and better from there.
- Marcos Kremer – 7.5
Flanker Marcos Kremer is one of the most impactful players in Test rugby. It’s impossible not to be impressed with the consistently incredible number that the backrower is able to put up. Kremer carried the ball 10 times and also beat one defender, but was especially impressive in defence with eight tackles and zero misses. Another great performance from Marcos Kremer.
It was a bit of a quiet night for Pumas backrower Juan Martin Gonzalez. The No. 8 made an impact at the breakdown but was otherwise kept out of the contest for what felt like long periods. Gonzalez, 22, had made five tackles and run the ball four times before being replaced in the 55th minute.
Replacements:
- Agustin Creevy – N/A
- Mayco Vivas – N/A
- Francisco Gomez Kodela – 5
- Pedro Rubiolo – 6
- Rodrigo Bruni – 6
- Tomas Cubelli – N/A
- Nicolas Sanchez – 5.5
- Lucio Cinti – 5
Comments on RugbyPass
So if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
67 Go to commentsNot a squeek out of Leinster for weeks about this match. So quiet. The first team have been quitely building for this encounter under Nienaber’s direction. All fresh, all highly motivated. They are expecting a season’s best performance from Northhampton. They will match that. They will be fresher and apparently they will have 80,000 out of the 83,000 shouting for them. I do expect Northhampton to turn up big time. Not to be missed. On a tangent it is evident how the loss of a few Premiership teams has in some respect helped other Premiership teams and England. More quality over less teams makes the teams better, which has a knock on effect on England. Not the only factor contributing to England’s rise but one of them.
1 Go to commentsOur very own monster teddy bear Ox😍💪
17 Go to commentsThis is might be the most generalised, entitled, patronising, out-of-pocket cultural indictment on a group of people you’ll ever see on what is supposedly a sports publication. I can only assume the author is weak like a woman or homosexual. I’m feeling an incredible range of emotions but I am not quite sure how to express them. I might go beat up a hockey player - assuming that’s okay with Duane and the boys? 🙂
9 Go to commentsBest thing the Welsh clubs could do is apply to join Gallagher prem surely be more exciting matches for there support than they have now.
2 Go to commentsRugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
9 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
24 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
67 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
24 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
67 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to commentsThe Melbourne Rebels lineout is a complete disaster so not surprisingly a kiwi coach of the Wallabies hires the worst lineout coach in the country and a foreigner to boot. No surprises whatsoever here…….
6 Go to commentsThank your for wasting 2 minutes of my life Daniel. There is a useful message in there somewhere but your delivery sucks.
9 Go to commentsBen Smith, you are cry baby
221 Go to comments