Wales against Argentina is one of many games taking place over the weekend as the End Of Year Tests enter their second week. However, this game has numerous sub plots festering within both camps, which could make for a good game on Saturday.
Wales – Debuts and Centenaries
For Wales they are still smarting after their defeat to the Springboks even though they had most of the possession (in the first half they had 62% to South Africa’s 38%), were able to make 349 metres to South Africa’s 258 and forced the Springboks to make more tackles.
Warren Gatland and his players will be frustrated and not being able to capitalise on the momentum they enjoyed.
What’s galling for Wales is they were unable to score a single point when South Africa went down to 14 men after Francois Louw was sent to the sin bin.
The Welsh have also been hit with injuries whether they were inflicted prior to the autumn internationals or suffered after their physical encounter against South Africa.
Before the Springbok game they were without experienced centre Jamie Roberts and their duo of wingers Eli Walker and Lions hero Alex Cuthbert.
That injury list was further compounded after their defeat to South Africa with tough tackling forward Dan Lydiate missing the Argentina game with an ankle injury.
But Wales suffered two huge blows with star prop Adam Jones and star centre Jonathan Davies (who is leaving his hometown club the Scarlets for France next season to don the colours of Top 14 giants Clermont Auvergne) are ruled out of the autumn internationals with calf and chest injuries respectively.
Davies’ chest injury is the more serious and could miss the entire Six Nations campaign next year.
However, with injuries comes the chance for new talent to break though, which is certainly the case with Gatland’s choice to replace Jonathan Davies.
Step forward 20-year-old uncapped Cardiff Blues centre Cory Allen.
The choice is a surprise seeing he has only played 10 games for the Cardiff Blues.
But within the Welsh set up he is regarded very highly, which must be so, as he was given the nod ahead of far more experienced players such as utility back James Hook and Ospreys centre Ashley Beck.
Though Allen is coming back after an eight-month lay off because of a shoulder injury Gatland certainly sees something in him to warrant a debut.
Gatland does like to blood talent during the end of year Tests with great results – look at George North who scored two tries on debut against South Africa in November 2010.
Looking at the Welsh starting XV there are three changes – Justin Tipuric replaces Dan Lydiate while 22-year-old Rhodri Jones will try to fill the huge void left by Adam Jones in the scrum.
However, fly half Dan Biggar is selected ahead of Rhys Priestland, which shows Gatland will look to improve their tactical kicking that Biggar did so well in the Six Nations. Priestland’s high balls against South Africa were too deep landing inside the Springbok 22 and merely surrendered possession.
But influential prop Gethin Jenkins impending 100th cap will certainly be a cause for much celebration within Wales.
Jenkins along with Adam Jones have been the driving force behind Wales’ forwards for so many years.
Though Adam Jones is a juggernaut in the scrum Gethin Jenkins brings so much variety – whether it be in his ball carrying, frenzied tackling and never say die attitude.
It is those qualities that make him an indispensable asset and an excellent servant to Welsh rugby.
Argentina – a team in transition
The Pumas have certainly had a turbulent 2013 especially during the last few months.
A winless Rugby Championship certainly lowered morale among the Pumas, especially as they should have beaten South Africa in Mendoza and Australia in Perth, if only they had more composure and explosive creativity within their backs.
To make things worse Santiago Phelan left as coach after five years in the role – merely a few weeks before the start of the autumn internationals.
Reports were rife of divisions within the Argentinean squad that led to Phelan’s resignation.
The chief instigator was reportedly veteran Toulouse lock Patricio Albacete who was against Phelan’s methods and has known to stir up trouble before.
Last year he criticised the Argentine rugby union (UAR) in regards to how players contracted to the UAR were paid and wanted improved facilities so Argentina could close the gap to rival nations.
It would cost Albacete as he had the vice captaincy stripped from him.
It is said that during the Rugby Championship two camps within the squad developed. On one side defending Phelan was captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, Racing Metro winger Juan Imhoff and mercurial full back Juan Martin Hernandez.
On the other was Albacete and centres Santiago Fernandez and Marcelo Bosch. There was also a third clique in the form of younger players in the squad. It can be argued this led to their winless campaign in the Rugby Championship.
However, the arrival of new coach Daniel Hourcade shows Argentina want to look forward after the Phelan regime.
The UAR are willing to give Hourcade a chance by offering him a contract until the 2015 World Cup.
The Argentine has notable coaching experience coaching Argentina A but made notable progress when in charge of the Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup.
He nurtured talents such as Juan Imhoff, full back Joaquin Tuculet, fly half Nicholas Sanchez and Pablo Matera along with many others in the Pumas squad.
With those players Hourcade led the Pampas XV to the 2011 Vodacom Cup final where they would lose 14-9 to the Blue Bulls.
One thing that Hourcade has shown is he’s not afraid to make changes and willing to give youth a chance.
However, that has been helped with injuries hurting Argentina, especially their captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe missing the autumn internationals with an elbow injury.
It is a huge blow for Argentina, as he is their talisman and in my view one of the most underrated players in rugby.
But the 23-man squad for the game against Wales shows Hourcade’s willingness to blood young talent.
In the forwards Pablo Matera’s stock continues to rise with his performances while on the bench there is 20-year-old Matias Diaz who heads to the Highlanders next year and towering 20-year-old lock Tomas Lavanini who recently signed for Racing Metro.
But in the backs the inclusion of Santiago Cordero is one that should excite fans of the Pumas.
The nineteen-year-old winger (who can also play at full back) first made his name in the Junior World Championships of 2012 with a blistering line break against France before scoring four tries in the Gold Coast Sevens later that year.
The young back was dangerous for the Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup making numerous line breaks with his agility and light feet.
He has the ability to break defences and beat his man when called upon – there is good reason why he is one of the most exciting prospects in Argentine rugby.
His efforts in the Sevens and Junior World Championships (notably in this year’s competition where he used his deceptive strength to bulldoze a Welsh winger on his way to score a try) as well, have brought about this call up.
But the nineteen year old from Buenos Aires is rumoured according to several French newspapers to have attracted serious attention from Top 14 outfit Stade Francais.
It is not surprising as Cordero is certainly an exciting talent while ex-Argentine fly half Gonzalo Quesada who was top points scorer of the 1999 World Cup is part of an Argentine coaching team in charge of Stade Francais.
Though possibly he could do well in Super Rugby – maybe Western Force, Melbourne Rebels or even the Lions could give him a chance.
However, Wales versus Argentina should be an intriguing clash, as Gatland’s men will be keen to avenge their surprise defeat to the Pumas last year: which started the first of four defeats during their 2012 autumn internationals campaign.
We shall see on Saturday who will prevail at the Millennium Stadium.
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