State of the Nation: Argentina

With the November internationals now done and dusted, we look at the state of affairs in each of the competing nations. Next up, Argentina.

It is difficult to cover over the fact that the Pumas have lost 10 of their 12 games in 2017, with the victories coming against Georgia and Italy.

Pressure has subsequently mounted on Daniel Hourcade and his charges, but at least their final two showings of the year brought some cheer. They beat Italy comfortably a fortnight ago and pushed an Ireland side, that had thumped South Africa, all the way in Dublin last weekend.

But on the whole it’s been a disappointing campaign and the fine performances they showed in 2015’s Rugby World Cup seem a distant memory.

Yes, the absence of foreign-based players such as Facundo Isa, Marcelo Bosch, Juan Figallo and Juan Imhoff has left a sizeable hole in the side but with that rule unlikely to change in the near future, despite those players’ hopes, the Pumas must build a side from the Jaguares.

The fact their Super Rugby outfit is practically the Test side can be viewed in two ways – one being it should help their cause due to the fact they are playing together week in week out, while on the flipside does their style, combinations and players become stale too easily? We side with the former argument as it’s surely more of a benefit to the Pumas that they can experiment and build depth away from the Test stage. The critics will then question why then did they have a worse Rugby Championship record than 2016. That’s what Hourcade must assess.

Player wise, Emiliano Boffelli has been one success story, however, as his finishing ability and long-range kicking has seen him nail down a spot. On the other wing Ramiro Moyano again demonstrated his talents against Ireland, with these two viewed as the best options out wide.

But like in all sport, rugby is a results business and that record in 2017 simply cannot be brushed over, with no points let alone wins in the Rugby Championship leaving a sense of where next for Argentina. Fortunately they picked up during November, which has lifted some gloom, but there’s no hiding from the unforgiving southern hemisphere table which is what they are judged upon. Lots of work to do before February.