Argentina June Tests

[Melhor Time]

There is a French thread which has lot os Argentine information on it but I´m starting this one to be more specific about Los Pumas and let the French one focus more on France.

Latter tonight I´ll be posting a piece on my site ***led - What to do with five in form wingers?

So, lets get started by talking about this here.....

Ita a problem Argentina have and a good one. There are five players all meriting a starting spot. Some can play out of position one scertainly should but maybe more. I am talking about Horacio Agulla, Martín Bustos Moyano, Gonzalo Camacho, Lucas González Amorosino and Juan Imhoff. Anyone following the Top 14 or Aviva Premiership will certainly know what I am getting at. All five will make the squad. All five are receiving loads of game time in France and England this season.

Amorosino seems destined to be 15 now which means there are four and not five places. The 15 from 2010-2011, Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga has been 12 all season for Stade Français and this should be his future, both club and country.

Argentina have an issue at 13. Tiesi has played 2 matches only this season for Stade Français. Got injured again... He is in the USA now in Pensacola recovering fully to be ready for June and beyond and will play tests. Bosch continues to look like the starting 13 however. While Agulla could very well work in the position. While playing 15 vs England in 2009 in London he switched throughout the match with Rodríguez and it seemed to work. He also played there in the World Cup with Tiesi and Contepomi both leaving injured vs England.

Imhoff is as good as any in France this season. May well make the Dream XV. He is Argentina´s 11.

Camacho is under pressure from Agulla with the latter scoring more tries this season. Camacho only scored two but, is a finalist for the Game Changer Player fo the year award. See here. This nomination seems to justify his selection as Argentina´s starting 14.

Bustos Moyano is the fith player. Currently Argentina´s best goalkicking option. He should certainly start in June in two matches, and if he shows the same form from his club duties with Montpellier then he shoudl go on to play a big role in TRC.

So the possibility of all four starting is real. It would mean Bosch on the bench, who has versatility on his side - 10, 12, 13 and 15. This would also enable Tati Phelan to continue his favored policy of having two props on the bench - only a scrumhalf and one other back.

i.e.

15 Amorosino
14 Bustos Moyano
13 Agulla
12 Rodríguez
11 Imhoff
10 Hernández
9 Figuerola

21 Cubelli
22 Bosch

 

[Melhor Time]

Was talking to a friend in Córdoba this past weekend who is buzzing at the thought of seeing the Pumas take on France in his city. Hopefully the teams are strong and not second string due to the long season.

Bustos Moyano is from Córdoba and my friend is really excited about seeing him.

 

[smartcooky]

Was talking to a friend in Córdoba this past weekend who is buzzing at the thought of seeing the Pumas take on France in his city. Hopefully the teams are strong and not second string due to the long season.

Bustos Moyano is from Córdoba and my friend is really excited about seeing him.

Nestor?

 

[Melhor Time]

Another guy.... but I´m sure Nestór is really excited! But every time he goes to a Pumas match they lose!

 

[ZeFrenchy]

Gonzalez Amorosino had a great game last night apparently (I couldn't watch it). Gomez Kodela did ver well i the scrums too, and Maximiliano Bustos came out injured.

 

[smartcooky]

Another guy.... but I´m sure Nestór is really excited! But every time he goes to a Pumas match they lose!

I know. He tells me that is why he doesn't go any more.

Perhaps he should go to this one... he surely must break his duck sooner or later!!

Alternatively, he could wait until 25th August and take a trip down Ruta Nacional 20 to Mendoza!!

 

[Melhor Time]

Gonzalez Amorosino had a great game last night apparently (I couldn't watch it). Gomez Kodela did ver well i the scrums too, and Maximiliano Bustos came out injured.

I´ve been quite impressed with Goméz Kodela. Of the three new Argentine tighthead props in the Top 14 he´s been the one getting regular game time.

González Amorosino is certain to win fullback of the season award in the Top 14. He scored in the first minute on Friday. Another good try... see the video

I know. He tells me that is why he doesn't go any more.

Perhaps he should go to this one... he surely must break his duck sooner or later!!

Alternatively, he could wait until 25th August and take a trip down Ruta Nacional 20 to Mendoza!!

Both loses that he went to that I know of were depleted Pumas teams. This season it will again not be at full strength but will be close and, in any event, France is not going to take its World Cup players.

Pretty good for people from Córdoba this year. A home match vs France and trips can be made to Tucuman, San Juan and Mendoza. Its close to being central to the other three cities.

 

[Melhor Time]

I would say Bustos is better than Gomez Kodela, although both have discipline problems

Argentina are not in such a good place with their props currently compared to the last decade

Ayerza has been great, but Figallo hasn't yet matched his form from last season since returning from injury and Bustos is a good scrummager but has discipline problems as does Gomez Kodela, much less depth in the Pumas pack now than there used to be, however now at wingers there is a load of depth that there was never before, I saw Agulla was named in Will Greenwood's Premiership team of the season

The props are young and not big name players like those from World Cup´s 2002, 2007 and 2011 but Figallo and Ayerza are very formidable and I´ve seen enough from G.Kodela, Bustos and Nahul Tetaz Chaparro I don´t think they´ll go for Juan Orlandi, thankfully! More chance of Roncero sticking around.

Kindly pass me the link to Grenwoods team Sir.

 

[Melhor Time]

yes, I hope Roncero stays around for the 4 Nations, I think he's needed, not as a starter, but he's definitely still good enough to be considered among five props in a 30+ man squad

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...Premiership-team-of-the-year-in-pictures.html

So Greenwood has both Ayerza and Agulla in the Aviva Premiership Dream XV.

Ayerza has been so unlucky given that he´s been tearing it up in England for over five years but has had to fight over the Pumas #1 shirt with Roncero. Now his chance has come though. Roncero, going off what he´s said, will gladly play as a bench player with Ayerza wearing the #1 shirt. I agree that the resources are thin now but I am confident that Ayerza-Creevy-Figallo will be a great frontrow in The Rugby Championship. Australia will need a bad scrumaging referee or they´ll be penalized for 80 minutes.

Going off what he says about Agulla it klooks like Greenwood would support a move to 13. Hopefully he gets tried there!

 

[Melhor Time]

Some twitter comments suggest Roncero will retire right away... that is, as soon as the Barbarians matches are over.

 

[Melhor Time]

[h=3]Leo Senatore to captain first Pumas test of 2012[/h]
Argentina vs Uruguay this Sunday. For more click here

Argentina



1- Roberto Tejerizo
2- Martín García Veiga
3- Gastón Cortéz
4- Santiago Guzmán
5- Benjamín Macome
6- Lisandro Ahualli de Chazal
7- Javier Ortega Desio
8- Leonardo Senatore (captain)
9- Martín Landajo
10- Valentín Cruz
11- Manuel Montero
12- Javier Rojas
13- Matías Orlando
14- Diego Palma
15- Ramiro Moyano

Reserves:

16- Ignacio Saenz Lancuba
17- Bruno Postiglioni
18- César Fruttero
19- Nicolás Azzorin
20- Tomás Cubelli
21- Stéfano Ambrosio
22- Facundo Barrea

Chile play Brazil too, also on Sunday.

 

[LittleGuy]

How well do you think Brazil will match up with Chile, Melhor?

 

[Melhor Time]

Better than in previous years I´d say. Brazil have got a former All Black coaching the team now and the players are all buzzing about the new style of play. Its going to be 15 man rugby. Looks like Daniel Gregg will be flyhalf. He has always played wing but has been the goalkicker for years. I´f I had to guess I´d say Brazil can give Chile a good first half but Los Condores should win by 20 points. Brazil´s best chance, however, would be vs Uruguay I´d say. Chile look to now be number 2 to Argentina and Uruguay are playing 10 man rugby.

 

[Melhor Time]

Argentina 40-5 Uruguay... For further info click here.

and

Chile 19-6 Brazil.. For further info click here.

Round 2 is on Wednesday with Chile vs Uruguay and Argentina vs Brazil.

 

[Cave Dweller]

 

[Melhor Time]

A lot of the Brazilian players have been posting heart felt messages about todays game vs Los Pumas on facebook and twitter. In particular the words from Daniel Gregg were special. It was Argentina 111-0 Brazil. Commentary and video here.

In the other match it was a whole different story with what we call a jogão....Chile 26-27 Uruguay!

Round three is on Saturday with Argentina vs Chile and Brazil vs Uruguay.

 

[welshglory]

A lot of the Brazilian players have been posting heart felt messages about todays game vs Los Pumas on facebook and twitter. In particular the words from Daniel Gregg were special. It was Argentina 111-0 Brazil. Commentary and video here.

In the other match it was a whole different story with what we call a jogão....Chile 26-27 Uruguay!

Round three is on Saturday with Argentina vs Chile and Brazil vs Uruguay.

Wow and that was with a pretty much 3/4th choice Puma team. Brazil are a million miles away

 

[ZeFrenchy]

That's pretty sad... I hope PSA takes the french tour seriously regardless...

 

[luchito]

If a player plays in June, they cannot play the Rugby Championship afterwards because of compulsory rests set by European clubs

 

[LittleGuy]

I was hoping Argentina would give Italy a tough go and tire them out before they head up to Canada, by the looks of things this Argentine team won't be that much stronger than Canada, leaving the Italians with a possible 3-0 tour.