2011 Squad Predictions

[ZeFrenchy]

Argentina squad prediction:

FB (1): Rodríguez
WG (5): Agulla, Amorosino, Camacho, Borges, Carballo
CT (3): Tiesi, Bosch, Fernández
FH (2): Hernández, Contepomi
SH (3): Vergallo, Lalanne, Figuerola
PR (4): Roncero, Ayerza, Scelzo, Figallo
HK (3): Ledesma, Creevy, Basualdo
LK (3): Albacete, Carizza, Galarza
FL (4): Campos, Fessia, Farías Cabello, de Achával
N8 (2): Fernández Lobbe, Leguizamón

I like your squad, but you only have one tight head prop (unless Ayerza can play 3? I don't really know). I think they will take Orlandi instead of Figallo. If Ayerza can effectively play 3, then they will maybe even drop Scelzo to accomodate Orlandi (he's 39 ffs!).
I admit I don't know most of your flankers, but I think Legui will start at 7 with Fessia at 6 (where do the other 3 play?). I also think they will take Santi Fernández as a FH, and you need a heavier centre in the squad (I don't know what has happenned to Avramovic, but that's the "kind" of player I mean). Also, I think Bustos Moyano will make the squad given his form at Montepellier, probably in Borges' place (even if I love that guy, he's too old now so his pace doesn't make up for his lack of weight anymore).

Now, this second paragraph is based on speculation about players I don't really now that well, so mostly based on info I found around there. De Achaval and Farias Cabello are both rather old and have only 2 caps each, so I don't really see the point in taking them. I also think Guzman will make it as a 4th lock instead of taking a 6th backrower, or instead of Carizza who hasn't played much this season for BO.

Anyway, I think Argentina is having problems with renewing their squad. Albacete, Ledesma, Roncero, Fernandez Lobbe and Contepomi still make up the base of their team, but none of them is as good as four years ago.

 

[Melhor Time]

I like your squad, but you only have one tight head prop (unless Ayerza can play 3? I don't really know). I think they will take Orlandi instead of Figallo. If Ayerza can effectively play 3, then they will maybe even drop Scelzo to accomodate Orlandi (he's 39 ffs!).
I admit I don't know most of your flankers, but I think Legui will start at 7 with Fessia at 6 (where do the other 3 play?). I also think they will take Santi Fernández as a FH, and you need a heavier centre in the squad (I don't know what has happenned to Avramovic, but that's the "kind" of player I mean). Also, I think Bustos Moyano will make the squad given his form at Montepellier, probably in Borges' place (even if I love that guy, he's too old now so his pace doesn't make up for his lack of weight anymore).

Now, this second paragraph is based on speculation about players I don't really now that well, so mostly based on info I found around there. De Achaval and Farias Cabello are both rather old and have only 2 caps each, so I don't really see the point in taking them. I also think Guzman will make it as a 4th lock instead of taking a 6th backrower, or instead of Carizza who hasn't played much this season for BO.

Anyway, I think Argentina is having problems with renewing their squad. Albacete, Ledesma, Roncero, Fernandez Lobbe and Contepomi still make up the base of their team, but none of them is as good as four years ago.

Ayerza can play 3. He started at 3 vs England in 2009 to replace Orlandi who had been poor in his stint of perhaps 6 tests in the Pumas 3 shirt. Since then Orlandi ahs not played for Argentina. Figallo has been there though in his place. He plays 1 for Montpellier buit Argentina have been using him as 3. Both Ayerza and Figallo were on the bench for Italy vs Argentina in 2010 and both came on with Figallo playing 3. I do think of him as a 1 but he can play both sides.

Scelzo is old, but not 39. He will turn 35 in June. Mario Ledesma is to be 38 at the World Cup! I am quite convinced that Argentina will go heavy and have 5 props and possibly rather than 2 hookers. It would thus be: Roncero, Scelzo, Figallo, Ayerza and Orlandi. But with Orlandi it will be only as fifth choice and it till be between him and a third hooker.

Agustín Creevy is ahead of Alberto Vernet Basualdo already and has signed for Montpellier on a two year deal starting after the World Cup. He´ll be on the bench or starting at the World Cup. Vernet Basualdo is third choice. Fourth choice is Eusebio Guiñazú who plays for Biarritz. He is also a prop so might sneak in

About the backrow... I don´t want those chosen that psychic duck mentioned and don´t want them in those positions. 8 has to be Leguizamón with Fernández Lobbe playing 6. 7 will go to Alejandro Campos or Leonardo Senatore. With the other being on the bench. Genaro Fessia will make the squad but not the 22. Miguel de Achával does not make my squad. He is behind Alvaro Galindo who should be included.

Four secondrower will be picked and will be: Albacete, Carizza, and Galarza with Tomas Vallejos or Julio Farias being the other. Vallejos gets plenty of match time for the Harlequins but Farias can play backrow and secondrow so looms as the guy to get picked. Esteban Lozada is a no chance despite being a pro for Edinburgh and also playing lots of games.

In the back three. Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga and Horacio Agulla will be the fullbacks without question. Wing will be Camacho and Amorisino as the two certainties with probably Agulla starting on the wing with Camacho on the other. Possibly Juan Imhoff from Los Pampas. He is ahead of Lucas Borges and in all honestly in with as much of a chance as Bustos Moyano. If in doubt check out his performances in the Vodacom Cup. You can see all the videos on my blog. Borges will not make the squad nor will Rafael Carballo. Amorisino is actually a fullback capable of playing wing and flyhalf. So he is cetain to feature.

Flyhalf is certain to be Hernández and Contepomi as P. Duck stated.

Centres will be Tiesi, Bosch and Fernández. Next in line being Horacio San Martín of Aironi. If Hernández is not fit Argentina will start Fernández at 12 and Tiesi 13 with Bosch on the bench. (but I do not want Contepomi at 10. He must be 12). Camacho can play 13 too which will factor in. Tiesi is the only genuine 13 while Bosch, Fernández and Contepomi can all play 12 with Bosch covering 13 and 15. Still, it looks good for San Martín esp to face Geórgia as it is Argentina´s fourth and final pool match and will be a second string side in the backs guaranteed and Argentina will want to have the option of a specialist centre to rest two or Contepomi, Tiesi and Bosch for the fixture.

Scrumhalf should only be two with Agustin Figuerola and Nicolas Vergallo being selected but Alfredo Lalanne missing out after not getting much game timer at all this season for London Irish.

Thus 30 players (17 forwards, 13 backs)

Prop: Ayerza (Leicester), Scelzo (Clermont), Roncero (SF), Figallo (Montpellier), Orlandi (Racing Metro)

Hooker: Ledesma (Clermont), Creevy (Pampas)

Secondrow: Albacete (Toulouse), Carizza (Biarritz), Galarza (Pampas), Farias (Pampas)

Backrow: Fernández Lobbe (Toulon), Campos (Agen), Leguizamón (SF), Galindo (Racing Metro), Senatore (Pampas), Fessia (Pampas)

Scrumhalf: Vergallo (Toulouse), Figuerola (Brive)

Flyhalf: Hernández (Racing Metro), Contepomi (Toulon)

Centre: Tiesi (Stade Français), Bosch (Biarritz), Fernández (Montpellier), San Martín (Aironi)

Wing: Camacho (Harlequins), Amorosino (Leicester), Bustos Moyano (Montpellier)

Fullback: Rodriguez (Stade Français), Agulla (Leicester)

 

[Tadginator]

Where's sonny bill and where's Corey jane

 

[Feicarsinn]

Where's sonny bill and where's Corey jane

Well a lot of people around here just don't think they're a good fit for this Argentine team. Talented undoubtedly, but they more than likely won't be selected as they're not Argentinian, they aren't connected to Argentina in any way, they've played for New Zealand and they don't speak Spanish.


Not saying it won't happen, but it does seem unlikely.

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Ayerza can play 3. He started at 3 vs England in 2009 to replace Orlandi who had been poor in his stint of perhaps 6 tests in the Pumas 3 shirt. Since then Orlandi ahs not played for Argentina. Figallo has been there though in his place. He plays 1 for Montpellier buit Argentina have been using him as 3. Both Ayerza and Figallo were on the bench for Italy vs Argentina in 2010 and both came on with Figallo playing 3. I do think of him as a 1 but he can play both sides.

Scelzo is old, but not 39. He will turn 35 in June. Mario Ledesma is to be 38 at the World Cup! I am quite convinced that Argentina will go heavy and have 5 props and possibly rather than 2 hookers. It would thus be: Roncero, Scelzo, Figallo, Ayerza and Orlandi. But with Orlandi it will be only as fifth choice and it till be between him and a third hooker.

Agustín Creevy is ahead of Alberto Vernet Basualdo already and has signed for Montpellier on a two year deal starting after the World Cup. He´ll be on the bench or starting at the World Cup. Vernet Basualdo is third choice. Fourth choice is Eusebio Guiñazú who plays for Biarritz. He is also a prop so might sneak in

About the backrow... I don´t want those chosen that psychic duck mentioned and don´t want them in those positions. 8 has to be Leguizamón with Fernández Lobbe playing 6. 7 will go to Alejandro Campos or Leonardo Senatore. With the other being on the bench. Genaro Fessia will make the squad but not the 22. Miguel de Achával does not make my squad. He is behind Alvaro Galindo who should be included.

Four secondrower will be picked and will be: Albacete, Carizza, and Galarza with Tomas Vallejos or Julio Farias being the other. Vallejos gets plenty of match time for the Harlequins but Farias can play backrow and secondrow so looms as the guy to get picked. Esteban Lozada is a no chance despite being a pro for Edinburgh and also playing lots of games.

In the back three. Martín Rodriguez Gurruchaga and Horacio Agulla will be the fullbacks without question. Wing will be Camacho and Amorisino as the two certainties with probably Agulla starting on the wing with Camacho on the other. Possibly Juan Imhoff from Los Pampas. He is ahead of Lucas Borges and in all honestly in with as much of a chance as Bustos Moyano. If in doubt check out his performances in the Vodacom Cup. You can see all the videos on my blog. Borges will not make the squad nor will Rafael Carballo. Amorisino is actually a fullback capable of playing wing and flyhalf. So he is cetain to feature.

Flyhalf is certain to be Hernández and Contepomi as P. Duck stated.

Centres will be Tiesi, Bosch and Fernández. Next in line being Horacio San Martín of Aironi. If Hernández is not fit Argentina will start Fernández at 12 and Tiesi 13 with Bosch on the bench. (but I do not want Contepomi at 10. He must be 12). Camacho can play 13 too which will factor in. Tiesi is the only genuine 13 while Bosch, Fernández and Contepomi can all play 12 with Bosch covering 13 and 15. Still, it looks good for San Martín esp to face Geórgia as it is Argentina´s fourth and final pool match and will be a second string side in the backs guaranteed and Argentina will want to have the option of a specialist centre to rest two or Contepomi, Tiesi and Bosch for the fixture.

Scrumhalf should only be two with Agustin Figuerola and Nicolas Vergallo being selected but Alfredo Lalanne missing out after not getting much game timer at all this season for London Irish.

Thus 30 players (17 forwards, 13 backs)

Prop: Ayerza (Leicester), Scelzo (Clermont), Roncero (SF), Figallo (Montpellier), Orlandi (Racing Metro)

Hooker: Ledesma (Clermont), Creevy (Pampas)

Secondrow: Albacete (Toulouse), Carizza (Biarritz), Galarza (Pampas), Farias (Pampas)

Backrow: Fernández Lobbe (Toulon), Campos (Agen), Leguizamón (SF), Galindo (Racing Metro), Senatore (Pampas), Fessia (Pampas)

Scrumhalf: Vergallo (Toulouse), Figuerola (Brive)

Flyhalf: Hernández (Racing Metro), Contepomi (Toulon)

Centre: Tiesi (Stade Français), Bosch (Biarritz), Fernández (Montpellier), San Martín (Aironi)

Wing: Camacho (Harlequins), Amorosino (Leicester), Bustos Moyano (Montpellier)

Fullback: Rodriguez (Stade Français), Agulla (Leicester)

Thanks for all that info, I don't think I have much to add. A few questions, though:
Do you think Campos or Senatore will make it ahead of Galindo in the starting squad? Galindo has been starting almost every match for Racing this year, it would be hard to ommit that.

Besides, I think you are rushing a bit on the Pampas players. Vodacom cup level is not comparable to Super Rugby or to top european leagues. In a different thread someone mentioned that Gricquas and Pumas, for instance, play Currie cup as well as Vodacom cup, with nearly the same team, and they get their asses kicked by the Lions and Cheetahs and the other Super rugby teams (Western Province, Natal, etc), so Imhoff has something to provr yet imo. Bustos is a starter every weekend and is about to play Top 14 semifinals, although I agree he is not a very exciting finisher, he is effective enough.
I'll give you Creevy over Vernet Basualdo though, since he almost hasn't played this year.

Also, I think a third Scrumhalf would be better than a sixth loose forward, and I think that a specialist 3 should always start, so if Scelzo is not fit for a particular game, I don't think Figallo or Ayerza should play there from the start (against a top team, I mean, not necesarily so against minor teams in the pool stage).

Finally, do you think that Hernandez as a first choice FH is a good choice given his form in the last two (or three) years? Unfortunately, I don't really see any alternative, since Bosch and Fernandez haven't played there for a while and Sanchez is a bit of a long shot.

 

[irelandfan123]

I think he mite mean squads for the world cup...


Bearing that in mind:

1. Healy
2. Cronin
3. Ross
4. Cullen
5. O'Connell
6. Ferris
7. O'Brien
8. Heaslip
9. O'Leary (Assuming Stringer loses form)
10. Sexton
11. Earls
12. D'Arcy
13. O'Driscoll
14. Bowe
15. Fitzgerald​

Deccie will put fitzgerald on the bench once he understands Paddy Wallace (as much as he has been a great man for Ulster and has talents ) is no longer useful due to 2 already talented Stand-offs and he presents much better coverage as he plays centre wing and fullback , saying that Earls will be put in Fullbackand Trimble should cover wing making the strongest back three since horgan, hickie and dempsey

 

[Melhor Time]

Thanks for all that info, I don't think I have much to add. A few questions, though:
Do you think Campos or Senatore will make it ahead of Galindo in the starting squad? Galindo has been starting almost every match for Racing this year, it would be hard to ommit that.

Besides, I think you are rushing a bit on the Pampas players. Vodacom cup level is not comparable to Super Rugby or to top european leagues. In a different thread someone mentioned that Gricquas and Pumas, for instance, play Currie cup as well as Vodacom cup, with nearly the same team, and they get their asses kicked by the Lions and Cheetahs and the other Super rugby teams (Western Province, Natal, etc), so Imhoff has something to provr yet imo. Bustos is a starter every weekend and is about to play Top 14 semifinals, although I agree he is not a very exciting finisher, he is effective enough.
I'll give you Creevy over Vernet Basualdo though, since he almost hasn't played this year.

Also, I think a third Scrumhalf would be better than a sixth loose forward, and I think that a specialist 3 should always start, so if Scelzo is not fit for a particular game, I don't think Figallo or Ayerza should play there from the start (against a top team, I mean, not necesarily so against minor teams in the pool stage).

Finally, do you think that Hernandez as a first choice FH is a good choice given his form in the last two (or three) years? Unfortunately, I don't really see any alternative, since Bosch and Fernandez haven't played there for a while and Sanchez is a bit of a long shot.

Galindo was used in November 2008 vs France then dropped with Rimas Alvarez playing in the backrow. Galindo was then used in June 2009 to be dropped again. In November 2009 he was injured and in June 2010 he was behind all of Fernandez Lobbe, Campos, Leguizamon and Fessia. For November 2010 he was behind these guys and also Julio Farias who replaced Leguizmon (suspended) and Campos (injured). Campos impressed in the November 2009 win vs Scotland and was first choice thereafter, inc vs France in June 2010. He got injured though and missed November 2010. Senatore has overtaked Fessia and Farias in the Pampas ranks. Getting more game time.

I think they´ll go for Campos, Leguizamon and Lobbe starting. Bench Galindo looks out of favor. The issue is he is a clear 6 and Argentina have Fernandéz Lobbe there (should be 6 not 7 or 8) so Galindo is likely to be outside of the match day 22.

About Los Pampas. I agree the level is down but the interesting thing is Argentina won the Vodacom Cup by playing an entirely different style of rugby. It was not rolling mauls, etc. Rather lots of ball to the line. Backs in the play all the time. Juan Imhoff stood out and will be in consideration but doesn´t make my list.

Alberto Vernet Basualdo may be off to Agen by the looks of things. Agustín Creevy left Clermont midway through the season to play for Los Pampas. He wanted more game time and it was probably a smart move. Had he not left he would have stayed in France and maybe not played so much. Another example is Mariano Galarza who left Leinster midway through the season to play for Los Pampas. I´d have both in the Pumas World Cup squad.

Scrumhalf... They went for 2 in 2007 and 2003. So I think Argentina will again have 2. I like three personally and agree with you.

Tighthead prop... My guess is they´ll start Roncero and Scelzo and have both Ayerza and Figallo on the bench for the England game. If there are any scrum issues then Orlandi may replace Figallo on the bench for the Scotland match. Argentina´s squad of 46 does not include Pedro Ledsema (Stade Français) who is a tighthead or Pablo Cardinalli (Brive) who also is or Juan Gomez (Leeds Carnegie). So, I think they´ll be playing the ones I said in the previous post. In any event Ayerza is a great scrummager either side.

Hernández will be picked and from what I understand is recovering fine. In July / August things will be clearer. Bosch won´t play 10. He will be picked as a 13 who can play 15, 12 and 10 from the bench if someone is hurt. Bosch actually helps Argentina as at 13 the options are not so flash besides Tiesi. For instance Viazzo (Bourgoin), Avramovic (Agen) and Aramburu (Glasgow) are all getting loads of game time this season but none of them should be at the World Cip and none made the squad of 46. Horacio San Martín did which is good news.

Without JMH I´d like Santiago Fernández at 10 and Contepomi at 12. Fernández played about 5 games at 10 for Montpelleir this season and the resat at 12. Not ideal but better than Contepomi or Bosch who have both been used at 13 with Bosch there all season and Contepomi playing more at 13 than 10 but more on the bench.

 

[leone]

my italian XV

1- Perugini
2- Ghiraldini
3- Castrogiovanni
4- Del Fava
5- Goldenhuys
6- Zanni
7- Bergamasco Mauro
8- Parisse
9- Semenzato
10- Gower
11- Bergamasco Mirko
12- Canale
13- Garcia
14- Benvenuti
15- Masi

 

[ZeFrenchy]

my italian XV

1- Perugini
2- Ghiraldini
3- Castrogiovanni
4- Del Fava
5- Goldenhuys
6- Zanni
7- Bergamasco Mauro
8- Parisse
9- Semenzato
10- Gower
11- Bergamasco Mirko
12- Canale
13- Garcia
14- Benvenuti
15- Masi

Hadn't Italy implemented a policy of restricting foreign-born players? I count 5 in there (six if you count Parisse, but that's pushing it a bit)

 

[leone]

not afaik... I think u are speaking about the policy for Celtic League ( ops pro12... ) teams