Argentina announced a group of 33 players on Monday with some surprises for the Rugby World Cup, including the omission of seasoned Matias Orlando and Santiago Cordero in the three-quarters, and some bets, with near-rookies Tomas Bogado (back ) and Rodrigo Isgro (winger). Cordero and Orlando (50 caps each) bear the brunt of the emergence of several players launched by Cheika since his arrival at the head of the Pumas 18 months ago. Such as the center Lucio Cinti, or Rodrigo Isgro, winger from rugby sevens, who started last month during Argentina’s victory in Australia (34-31).
“It’s a balanced group in experience, with 14 players for whom this will be the first World Cup, but around 28 on average, the age of maximum capacity”, explained Cheika, who had words for Orlando, Cordero , and for the second line of Bayonne Lucas Paulos, also left out of the list of 33, like the winger of Clermont Bautista Delguy.
“In all humility, because we are neither the world N.1 nor the N.2 but the N.7 or 8, I don’t know, we are going to the World Cup not to play a quarter or a semi-final, but to our goal which is to reach October 28 (final, NDR) and win. Within our group there is this confidence, this faith in the work that we do,” said Cheika.
The gain in confidence has been palpable among the Pumas since the arrival of the Australian in March 2022, a period fueled by historic victories in New Zealand, England, or recently in Australia. Even if the Pumas are still looking for consistency in their performances.
The Argentine group could suffer from a lack of depth in certain positions, such as the opening, where Santiago Carreras, 25, initially a rear-winger converted to N.10, will only be assisted by veteran Nicolas Sanchez (34). ), little used under Cheika. Or at the back, where Mallia’s backup specialist Tomas Bogado honored his first selection on Saturday.
The hooker captain Julian Montoya, the winger-scorer Emiliano Boffelli, the 3rd line Pablo Matera, or the “Toulouse” Juan Cruz Mallia at the back, will be the spearheads of a Pumas selection where the indestructible Agustin Creevy ( 38 years old), who has just honored his 100th selection, has made a name for himself and will play his fourth World Cup.
Unlike Cordero, another veteran winger, Juan Imhoff, also managed to join the list, even if, forgotten for the 2019 World Cup, he started from afar. Similarly, the second or third line Guido Petti, coming out of a white season with Bordeaux-Bègles, was deemed essential, thanks to his return to a friendly on Saturday against the Springboks (13-24).
Among the eight players launched for a year and a half by Cheika, the youngest of the group, the second or third row Pedro Rubiolo, 20, could be a player to follow, while the third row Juan Martin Gonzalez, revelation of the 2022 season , could make a name for himself in the world of rugby. Argentina will play in Group D with England, Japan, Samoa and Chile, and will start against XV de la Rose on September 9 in Marseille, in a match that will undoubtedly be decisive for the first place in the group.
The group of 33 Argentinians for the World Cup:
Arrières : Juan Cruz Mallia (Toulouse/FRA), Martin Bogado (Otago, NZL)
Wingers: Emiliano Boffelli (Edinburgh/SCO), Matthew Carreras (Newcastle/ENG), Juan Imhoff (Racing 92/FRA), Rodrigo Isgro (Mendoza/Pumas VII)
Centers : Santiago Chocobares (Toulouse/FRA), Matias Moroni (Newcastle/ENG), Jeronimo de la Fuente (Perpignan/FRA), Lucio Cinti (Saracens/ENG)
Opening: Santiago Carreras (Gloucester / ENG), Nicolas Sanchez (without club)
Gonzalo Bertranou (Newport/WAL), Lautaro Bazan Velez (Rovigo/ITA), Tomas Cubelli (Miami/USA)
Third line: Pablo Matera (Honda Heat/JAP), Facundo Isa, Marcos Kremer (Clermont), Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens/ENG), Rodrigo Bruni (Bayonne/FRA), Santiago Grondona (Bristol/ENG), Pedro Rubiolo (Newcastle /eng)
Second Row: Matthias Alemanno (Gloucester/ENG), Tom Lavanini (Clermont/FRA), Guido Petti (Bordeaux/FRA)
Pillars: Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro (Jaguares), Francisco Gomez Kodela (Lyon/FRA), Joel Sclavi (La Rochelle/FRA), Thomas Gallo (Trevise/ITA), Eduardo Bello (Newcastle/ENG)
Hookers: Julian Montoya (Leicester/ENG, Cape Town), Agustín Creevy (London Irish/ENG), Ignacio Ruiz (contact Perpignan/FRA)
