Even though the opener of the 2014 Rugby Championship is less than two months away, Argentina have already started preparations for the competition. .
New coach Daniel Hourcade is now training the Pumas for the June internationals against Ireland and Scotland
The squad for the June internationals will likely consist of those not playing in Europe, those whose contracts have ended or released by European clubs, and players that mainly ply their trade in Argentina’s domestic competitions.
Within the squad for the games against Ireland and Scotland are players with international experience, but also those who won the IRB Pacific Cup with the Pampas XV back in March.
Among the line-up are some very experienced players such as halfback pairing Martin Landajo and Nicolas Sanchez, fullback Joaquín Tuculet and winger Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino. They will play an integral part for the Pumas against Ireland in the two-Test series in Resistencia and Tucuman before facing Scotland in Cordoba on June 21.
While the players contesting the June internationals will vie for spots for Argentina’s Rugby Championship squad, Daniel Hourcade has already made his mark when selecting his European based players for his Rugby Championship squad.
The 13-strong European contingent selected has omitted several veterans of the Argentinean team. Omitted from the list include players such as Toulouse lock Patricio Albacete, Leicester prop Marcos Ayerza, Bayonne utility back Santiago Fernandez and Leicester winger’s Gonzalo Camacho.
Santiago Fernandez has decided to stay with Bayonne during pre-season instead of turning out for Argentina, while Gonzalo Camacho is out with a shoulder injury and needs surgery.
The omission of Albacete and Ayerza are real surprises. Both are veterans of the team who provide power and real presence in the Argentine pack. Albacete was part of the Pumas’ brilliant run to third place in the 2007 Rugby World Cup, while Ayerza has emerged himself as a top loosehead prop in recent years.
Though Hourcade did say those playing in Europe after the 2015 World Cup (but coinciding with Argentina’s entry into Super Rugby in early 2016) would not be considered for national selection, Pumas captain Juan Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Imhoff and Ramiro Herrera have contracts with French Top 14 sides into 2016.
One underlying reason why Albacete and Ayerza have been cut from the Rugby Championship squad could be internal. Albacete was the vice-captain in 2012, but it was the Toulouse lock that led the supposed coup d’etat which caused the lack of unity in the Pumas squad and the sudden resignation of Santiago Phelan as Pumas head coach in October.
Moreover, Ayerza and Santiago Fernandez were reported to be part of the Albacete camp who were displeased by Phelan’s conservative methods.
Hourcade is known for his ruthlessness and is not afraid to make wholesale changes if needed, adopting a zero tolerance on those players that do not adhere to his standards.
The other European based players selected have all enjoyed a good season. Fernandez Lobbe won the Heineken Cup with Toulon on the weekend, Imhoff and Juan Martin Hernandez rediscovered their form in the Top 14 playoffs with Racing Metro, prop Ramiro Herrera has been solid for Castres with a game against Toulon in the Top 14 final as a result, and Marcelo Bosch is in inspired form in the centre with Saracens.
With the omission and injury of veterans who have played for Argentina in the first two seasons of the Rugby Championship, newcomers and youngsters can put their hand up for the Pumas in the run-up to the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
While Santiago Phelan was reluctant to blood youngsters into his side, Hourcade is the opposite. While coaching the Pampas XV in their Vodacom Cup triumph in 2011, he picked a team composed of youngsters that played fast attacking rugby. Among the youngsters that won the Vodacom Cup in 2011 are many playing for Argentina now including Agustin Creevy, Juan Imhoff, Nicolas Sanchez, Joaquin Tuculet and Leonardo Senatore.
Among the national pool are several youngsters that could impress in the June internationals and be in Argentina’s Rugby Championship squad. This includes searing pace of 19-year-old Santiago Cordero, the return of powerful winger Manuel Montero, the trickery of young fly-half Patricio Fernandez (who will be at the Junior World Championship in New Zealand) along with bulking young props Matias Diaz and Lucas Noguera Paz.
Though Hourcade has omitted the big names in Albacete and Ayerza, he is looking to give his youngsters a chance and prepare them for the World Cup. Many of these youngsters will play in Super Rugby come 2016, so these are important years for them to get experience in top level competitions before entering the cauldron of Super Rugby.
No doubt the 2014 Rugby Championship is important for the Pumas, and the June internationals will see where his team is in the run up to the Rugby Championship.
But playing Ireland and Scotland is certainly a different kettle of fish to facing South Africa, Australia and the All Blacks.
defensapuma
Guest
There is still a missing piece in the Argentine developmental plan and that is to insure some return for their investments on young players. It is not fair play for the UAR to invest in players that later go and sign long term contracts with foreign clubs in Europe. Its in the UAR's best interest to limit these options when young players are going into their system and encourage their participation in Super Rugby. I believe one possible solution would be to assure x number of games with super rugby or the pumas before they have the option to play in Europe. Food for thought.
Nobrain
Guest
I am very confident that it has been talks with at least 15 players, some of them where playing in Europe and did not renew their contracts and came back to Argentina. Gonzales Amorasino and Nico Sanchez, just to name two ,have come back and they were elegible agewise to keep playing at top level. My point is place some of these players in different franchise in SR, give them dome playing time before they engage in the comp in 2016. The would get experience which is very important not only for the game, but how it is to play profesionally in this league. The training, the traveling, the food, ect. Allready Canizza is in the Stormers and Diaz is in Highlanders, just place 12 more player around . It is all I am asking, and yes the UAR will pay their salaries. You may not understand that rugby still amateur in Argentina and that is the reason that my point of view sounds unreasable to you.
Wolfpack
Guest
Thanks
P
Guest
No their clubs wont let them play in june if they want to play the championship
Wolfpack
Guest
Will Juan Marrin Fernandez,lobbe,Imhoff and Bosch be involved against Ireland?
Tane Mahuta
Guest
What players? Are you suggesting they form the team now and then loan them to the Super franchises? They probably know of a few players that will play in the Arg franchise but I doubt they have more than a couple of handshake agreements so far. It will be very interesting to see who will be interested in playing for them from the national side. I guess it depends on how much money they will have to offer. It would be fantastic if guys like Matera, Lobbe, Hernandez, Albacete, Ayerza, Figallo, and others return but I am not holding my breath.
Tane Mahuta
Guest
Johnno you are a tr0ll
HARRY
Guest
¿Que?
P
Guest
Thank you for your article about the pumas. Keep em coming please. I do hope albacete and ayerza play in the championship I think we will need them, especially ayerza. I understand what albacete did with phelan was wrong but a lot of people were sick of phelan because of the boring play and embarassing results.
Nobrain
Guest
Thanks Yousef, you are very well inform of what is going on with Albacete and Ayerza, it is a political decision and a message for the rest of the players. I do not see Ayerza as an agitator but Albacete personality can be a burden for the rest of the team. I will have a very good look on Patricio Fernandez if he gets a chance to play and Montero has been playing very good for his club and score 4 times in the half time he had when Pumas defeated Uruguay last week. Figallo, who just signed for Saracens, has been injured since last RCH and will be missed but expected for RWC in 2015. I also agreed with Johnno that some of these players should be taken in consideration in different teams in the SR 2015 so they get valuable experience before entering the 2016 expansion.
kunming tiger
Guest
Hourcade is on the right track.
Matt
Guest
Super Rugby for Argentina will fill a massive hole in their development. Being able to keep players together and at home in Argentina will be a start. All of a sudden they are in front of local fans and bringing more attention to the game. Then exposing them to the top level of rugby below Tests will be the second step, as things like the Pacific Champs and Vodacom Cup aren't true professional levels. Nor is being scattered across Europe useful for creating a cohesive Pumas style of rugby. Hopefully they can fund it sustainably and do the whole thing well, especially when you see how a team like the Rebels are sinking so much money with decent enough crowds and sponsors. If Argentina can provide a real production line for their considerable young talent they'll soon become a consistent force in the game.
Johnno
Guest
Argies will get better this year, alot of talent is coming through. Still would be good if Aussie teams opened up lot of foreign import spots for Argies and developed there talented props for our super rugby teams. Be good then theyd get oppurtunities in our SR teams, and develop for the pumas side and be more competitive vs the wallabies and even beat them. Making it a responsibility to develop Argentina and make them better even if they become better than us should be a priority for OZ rugby. Otherwise why bother have em in the rugby championship to be the whipping boys, if were not gonna help develop them to be as good as us and compeititive and even. French rugby has helped the Argentina players develop by giveing them foreign import sports at the expense of French locals, Australian rugby needs to do the same, otherwise don't complain if Argentina are boring and your bored of Argies being the whipping boys of the comp. Some good young Argie talent is coming through now we need more Argie players on SH rosters at super rugby so the calanders are aligned and that means more foreign imports and an Argentina rule. I say 5 Argies players per SR team in South Africa/NZ/Australia otherwise why bother have em to be the whipping boys or playing in NH European season. Good luck Pumas, hope you do better this year. You have the worst travel schedule again.