The Pumas They were the Pumas again. After the last match, played four and a half months ago, the players scattered across Europe and headed to their clubs. The reunion took place in a three-day rally held in Londonwhich ended this Wednesday and marked the beginning of Felipe Contepomi’s cycle as head coach. Beyond the emotional side, and even the technical issues, the meeting’s main purpose was to lay the foundations of the Argentine national team for the next four years, with the Australia 2027 World Cup as the arrival point. The conclusions can be summarized in one word: “Improve”.
The bronze medal match against England at the closing of the France 2023 World Cup, played in October, was the Pumas’ last performance. On a court, the reunion will not occur until July, when there will be three test matches. In the meantime, important changes occurred and it was necessary to take a previous step.
The images arriving from London show a first visual change: for the first time in 23 years there is not the Nike pipe on the players’ chests, but the Le Coq Sportif rooster, the new official supplier of the different UAR teams. . The official premiere will take place with Pumas 7s at Seven in Hong Kong (April 5 to 7). More importantly, Contepomi got his first taste of being a head coach after serving as Michael Cheika’s top assistant the previous two years. With him they remain Andrés Bordoy y Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbewhich denotes a continuity with respect to the previous cyclealthough with modifications based on the personal imprint that the twin Felipe will apply.
“The best of camp It was, without a doubt, meeting us again. Seeing each other again after so long is a spectacular energy and atmosphere that – the truth is – was greatly missed,” said the captain. Julian Montoya it’s a statement. “Those were days in which work was done on the physical partdoing different tests to see where we stand, and considering where we want to go. we made a analysis of the last two years and we talk a lot about continuing with this process that we are doing and the beginning of a new World Cup cycle, in which short, medium and long-term objectives are proposed. We saw where we are, how we can be better, what do we want to improve. “I am very excited about everything that is coming.”
During the three days in which the concentration was extended, between Monday and Wednesday, the focus was on drawing up a joint diagnosis between the coaching staff and the players about the current situation and future objectives, according to the release. There were no ball or rugby training sessions. The players were also exposed to general evaluations of physical trainer Juan Ignacio Covassi at the Hazelwood Centre, London Irish’s sports complex.
When it came to diagnosing what happened in France, where the Pumas finished fourth, and the goals for the 2027 World Cup, Montoya emphasized improvement: “It shows that we have a lot to improve. We are trying to correct a lot of those things that we saw, but The challenge now is to improve what we are doing well and see how we can be a better team by overcoming the things we did wrong or not so well. That is the challenge we have ahead of us. We achieved very positive things, and now we must continue with that process, seek greater consistency, seek those results that we want to achieve, knowing that it is a new World Cup cycle.”
Furthermore, the meeting was the first for the team with Rob Mooar, the new member of the coaching staff. A New Zealander, he was backs coach for the Crusaders, All Blacks and the Scotland national team, as well as head coach of Llanelli Scarlets. He will be in charge of the backs and the attacking game.
Those cited by Contepomi were 30 players: 29 who are active in Europe and one who is active in Argentina (Jerónimo de la Fuente was not there, originally called up but out due to an injury). In a recent interview for THE NATION, the technical director warned that they are constantly monitoring between 50 and 55 players and that all of them are susceptible to being called up. In fact, he went further to say that anyone with an up-to-date Argentine passport can be taken into account. However, there are some designations that are indicative.
By case, The absences of Agustín Creevy and Juan Imhoff are significant. Con 38 and 35 years, respectively, it is unlikely that they will reach Australia 2027. Their omission from the list does not imply that they have already played their last game for the Pumas, but it is an indication of the plans that the coaches have for the future. “Due to World Rugby regulations we were able to call up only 30. Although there is a process that continues, there is a new World Cup cycle. There is a short, medium and long term and different needs are met,” Contepomi justified. The same can be said of Francisco Gómez Kodelaof 38who has just extended his contract with Stade Français.
In favor of the hooker, there were only two players in his position: Montoya and Ignacio Ruiz. Against the wing, the coach once again trusted Bautista Delguy y Santiago Cordero, who were not among the 33 World Cup winners. Not so in Matías Orlandoone of the surprising absences from France 2023. Among the others returns the opening ones are counted Thomas Albornozthe pillar Lucio Sordoni and those who missed the big event due to injuries, Santiago Grondona y Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro.
There were other casualties that can be explained by logistical issues: those who operate on other continents, such as Tomás Cubelli (USA), Pablo Matera y Nicolas Sanchez (Japan) and Martin Bogado (New Zealand), in addition to Santiago Medrano (Australia), which was in the run-up to France 2023 but did not make the cut.
There were no new players on the squad. The only novelty was the incorporation of Franco Molina, 26 years old. Dogos XV’s second line had been in the consideration of Cheika, who took him on the European tour in November 2022, but the back did not make his debut. A knee injury suffered while playing in the Super Rugby Americas last year prevented him from fighting for a place at France 2023.
In the immediate future, the Pumas’ next goal is july windowin which they will receive France in two test matches, with venues to be determined. Furthermore, it is close to confirming that the third match will be against Uruguay in Montevideo.
“Without a doubt, returning to Argentina is always the best part of the Pumas’ year; Being able to play with your people, in your country, is something spectacular,” Montoya continued. “Playing two home games with France is a huge challenge; We are all very happy and excited about that possibility. “It is a very busy and very challenging year, but it is what we like the most and what we look for the most.”
The blue and white season will continue with the Rugby Championship (six games between August and October) and will end with the November tour of Europe, where the Pumas will face Italy, Ireland and France. The international segment will be concentrated in the second half of the year. For three days, at least, the Argentine players were Pumas again.
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