WHILE WE HAVE been warned that Ireland will be facing a heavily-weakened Argentina team in Chaco tomorrow evening [KO 7.40pm Irish time], there remains an element of the unknown about the side Los Pumas have selected.
Here, we go through the starting XV that head coach Daniel Hourcade has selected to face Joe Schmidt’s side, outlining each player’s experience in international and club rugby.
15. Joaquín Tuculet
The 24-year-old Libre fullback has won eight caps for Los Pumas, and played for Top 14 side Bordeaux as recently as January having joined them on a medical joker contract. Spent the 2012/13 campaign with Grenoble, where he made nine Top 14 starts, and had a year with Sale in the Premiership before that.
14. Santiago Cordero
A genuinely thrilling prospect, the 20-year-old lit up the 2013 Junior World Championship with his footwork, acceleration and counter-attacking ambition. The Regatas Bella Vista man is a natural fullback and with five Test caps under his belt already, looks certain to be playing in Europe or Super Rugby in the future.
13. Jerónimo de la Fuente
With just two international caps against Portugal and Russia, de la Fuente is one of the more inexperienced Argentine players. Currently on Duendes RC’s books, the 23-year-old has been very active in the IRB World Sevens Series. De la Fuente has also played in the Vodacom Cup with the Pampas XV.
12. Gabriel Ascárate
With 12 caps, including starts against England and Italy, Ascárate is tuned into the demands of international rugby. The 26-year-old made Heineken Cup and Pro12 starts for Glasgow in the first half of the current season but is now back with Natación y Gimnasia in Argentina. Has also spent time with Carcassonne in France’s Pro D2.
11. Manuel Montero
The 22-year-old wing has scored 11 tries in his 10 caps for Argentina so far, including four in the recent hammering of Uruguay. Montero played against Ireland in Dublin in the 2012 November Tests. A Pucará clubman, the 102kg back has also played for Pampas XV in the Vodacom Cup and is a sevens international too.
10. Nicolás Sánchez
18-times capped out-half Sánchez is installed as first-choice even when Los Pumas are at full strength. The 25-year-old is a creative presence, but has struggled for game time at Bordeaux this season, with the Top 14 club preferring the solidity of Pierre Bernard. Sanchez is intelligent in picking out slow forwards in the defensive line and possesses a fine kicking game.
9. Martín Landajo (capt.)
Another first-choice player for Argentina, the 25-year-old is the second most experienced player in the starting team with 28 caps. Playing out of the CASI club, Landajo has not yet moved to Europe or Super Rugby. The Buenos Aires native also covers out-half.
1. Lucas Noguera Paz
The 20-year-old is in for a testing time against Mike Ross as he makes just his third Test appearance after starting against Chile and Uruguay recently. Another member of the 2013 Junior World Championship squad, the loosehead plays club rugby for Lince. 108kg loosehead Paz faces his toughest task yet in a burgeoning international career.
2. Matías Cortese
With just five caps, 28-year-old Cortese has taken his time in securing a place in the Argentina squad. Now with Liceo RC, the hooker’s CV includes time at Gloucester, Bayonne, Biarritz and Northampton. The Mendoza man never managed to nail down a starting spot at any of those clubs but will be aware of what Ireland will bring.
3. Ramiro Herrera
The 25-year-old started the Top 14 final for Castres last weekend, completing 75 minutes on what was his sixth appearance of the campaign. Herrera only joined the French club this season, having played out of the Hindu club before. Remarkably, the Ireland game will be his international debut. Herrera is on something of a roll at present.
4. Manuel Carizza
With 41 caps, Carizza is the most experienced member of the Argentine match-day squad. Having spent the 2012/13 season with Racing Métro, the 29-year-old line-out specialist is now contracted to the Stormers in Super Rugby. Likely to be a focal point for the Pumas pack.
5. Tomas Lavanini
There are high hopes for the seven-times capped lock in Argentina, while Racing Métro were sniffing around the prospect last year. 21-year-old Lavanini was exceptional at the 2013 Junior World Championship, where his incredible 6ft 7ins, 130kg frame made him a menace. Has looked comfortable in the senior international arena.
6. Rodrigo Baez
Having made his debut against Chile in 2012, Baez has gone on to win seven more caps for Argentina. The 102kg flanker has played in the Vodacom Cup for the Pampas XV, while also lining out for Liceo RC at home. A start against England last summer has been the peak of his international career so far.
7. Tomás De la Vega
The nine-times capped CUBA player has started twice against France for Los Pumas, while his club CV also includes many appearances for the Pampas XV. The 100kg 23-year-old should relish the the breakdown battle against Chris Henry.
8. Benjamin Macome
The 28-year-old is a powerful presence from the base of the scrum, as he has shown over the course of 17 caps for his country. Was signed by Stade Français as a medical joker this season and played six times in the Top 14. Has since returned to the Libre club.
Replacements
Lucas González Amorosino is a stand-out name on the bench, with the back three player having appeared for Oyonnax, Montpellier and Leicester over the past four seasons.
Tomás Cubelli is an experienced scrum-half, while prop Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro was playing in the Pro12 with the Dragons until very recently. The remaining five subs have 23 Test caps between them.
Never heard of him. Or him, or him…
On paper it looks like Ireland should wipe the floor with this Argentina side but we are experimenting in a few positions as well so might not be as plain sailing as it looks. Still think we have too much talent on show for the pumas to cause any upset.
what’s a medical joker contract ?
Short term contracts used to fill vacancies left by injured players in Heineken Cup and other competition squads. Say for example a team only registered three hookers in their squad, and two went down injured, they could bring someone in on a medical joker until one or more of the players returns to fitness.
Dont think Mike Ross has ever given anyone a hard time!
Very disrespectful there to his abilities! Ross has been a fine player for years at the highest level and has given plenty of top quality props a good battle.
On a side note, check out his Wikipedia entry :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Ross_(rugby_union)
Michael Robert Ross. Born on 21st December, 1979. 6ft 2, 127kg (beast). Played club rugby for Fermoy (excellently) before going to UCC and then playing for Cork Con. Played with Cork Con (with whom he won Irish Cup 2006 and was clearly the best player). At this time he was also in the Munster academy where he received 1 cap. Munster bottled it with him. At the age of 26 he moved to Harlequins to play top level rugby (like Munster should have given him) in England ,a total of 84 times scoring no tries but being the catalyst for many. In 2009 he made the big move to Leinster, he has over 100 appearances. His first try came on the 5th of April 2013 in Adams Park against London Wasps. His unbelievable try came on 45th minute where Isa Nacewa made a break getting caught just short of the line, and who was in support, but big MIKE ROSS to drive over the line. This try should have been voted try of the season but some fancy back got it instead. In 2009 he was also picked for the Ireland squad to go on tour to America/Canada . He got his first cap against Canada. From then he has received 39 international caps becoming Ireland’s strongest scrummager and definitely the best in the world. Backs (like Drico and Kearney) and fancy forwards ( like Cian Healy and Heaslip) get all the credit but at the end of the day, most of Leinster’s wins come down to the brick that is Mike Ross.
Mike Ross would give you a hard time..
You hope it’s not like one of these Argie teams from the past that what they lack in skill they make up for with face punching!
How come it’s only on sky??
Will Argentina have their actual first team players available for the second test?
Very inexperienced team, hope the match is a contest of some sort.