Really curious to see who they will take.
This are the current Pumas, not that much caps in general but still a decent team.
http://www.uar.com.ar/pum-perf01.asp
Don´t let the number of caps fool you. Argentina, in a good year, play 6 matches. New Zealand in a normal year play 12. Consider Mario Ledesma who will play in his fourth World Cup this year. He is 38 years old and has been in the side since 1996. Yet he´s got 77 caps only. Richie McCaw debuted over 5 years after Ledesma yet has 94 caps. Juan Fernández Lobbe debuted in 2004, has been one of the best backrowers in Europe over the past five years. Yet only 39 caps. Kieran Read debuted four years after Fernández Lobbe yet has 30 caps. Dan Carter debuted in 2003 and has 79 caps. Juan MartÃn Hernández debuted the same year and has 32 caps. Felipe COntepomi played at RWC 1999 yet has fewer caps than Carter. Contepomi has played 70 tests since debuting in 1998. Not hard to do the math...
Whats important is how the players have been playing for their respective teams. Two Pumas were in the Aviva Premiership Final, four in the Top 14 Orange Final, four in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final and others in the semi finals and quarters of all European competitions. I´ve been watching some interviews online with the players in the training camp in the USA this week. A guy there who won´t make the RWC squad is Eusebio Guiñazú. He claims the forwards are accounted for, ready and really looking good. The backs have been overshadowing them in 2011. For instance, Camacho try in the Amlin Challenge Cup Final to win the game. RodrÃguez landed a 45 metre drop in the match. Fernández and Bustos Moyano for Montpellier scoring tries in the Top 14 semi final. Not as experienced as the forwrds but have been performing well at the top level.
Who will they take - I´d go go the following:
Agulla,
Albacete, Amorosino,
Ayerza,
Bosch, Bustos,
Bustos Moyano,
Camacho, Campos, Carizza,
Contepomi, Creevy,
Fernández,
Fernández Lobbe, Fessia,
Figallo, Figuerola, Galarza,
Galindo, Hernández, Lalanne,
Ledesma,
Leguizamón,
RodrÃguez,
Roncero,
Scelzo, Senatore, Tiesi, Vallejos, Vergallo.
Those in blue played in the finals of a premier European tournament in 2011.
14 Camacho,
15 RodrÃguez,
11 Agulla
13 Tiesi,
12 Contepomi
10 Hernández (or Fernández if injured),
9 Figuerola
7 Galindo,
8 Leguizamón, 6 Fernández Lobbe
5 Albacete,
4 Carizza
3 Scelzo,
2 Ledesma,
1 Ayerza
Bench:
16 Creevy,
17 Roncero,
18 Figallo,
19 Galarza,
20 Senatore,
21 Vergallo,
22 Fernández (or Bosch)
A very strong team. Hopefully they go out to´play good rugby and not the dribble from november. BTW its two props on the bench and thus only two backs.
