The Rugby Championship Players to Watch - Agustín Creevy

Creevy for Biarritz vs Bourgoin

Argentine international forward Agustín Creevy has gone from being  an outside contender for international honors to a first choice player and has done so in a short period of time. Creevy´s remarkable turn around came about when he was injured while playing for Biarritz as a backrower. The Basque club had contracted Creevy as a backrower, the position he had always played in. However, at the request of Argentine headcoach, Santiago Phelan, Creevy moved into the frontrow and changed to hooker. In changing, Creevy requested to be released from his contract with Biarritz and returned to Argentina in January 2009. The transition proved to be effective and Creevy was playing hooker for Los Jaguares (Argentina A) in the Churchill Cup in North America five months latter.  

Creevy at hooker vs Wales

When Santiago Phelan named his squad for Argentina´s November 2009 tour of England, Wales and Scotland he did so with Creevy selected at hooker. Creevy was selected alongside Mario Ledesma and Alberto Vernet Basualdo and made his debut at hooker vs Scotland as a replacement for Vernet Basualdo. His high workrate was noticable and in coming on for Vernet Basualdo Argentina had a new found weapon on the park. It cemented Creevy as Argentina´s second choice hooker behind Ledesma (who missed the match due to his wife giving birth) and set the tone for Rugby World Cup 2011. In facing Scotland at Murrayfield, Creevy was playing his fourth test. He had made his debut vs Japan in 2005. Since changing to hooker, however, Creevy has played thirteen tests, all on the bench. But with the retirement of Ledesma the position is Creevy´s and not only because he is the player in waiting but also because he has been performing very well in the position.

Creevy for Los Pampas XV

Creevy has played for three French Top 14 clubs - Biarritz, Clermont and Montpellier. Clermont used him as a mediacal joker but as he was strugglging to get game time he requested to be released and he returned to Argentina to be named as captain of Los Pampas XV. He led the team to victory in the South African competition and did so in style as the Argentine team won every match. After Rugby World Cup 2011, Creevy returned to France this time with Montpellier and has been the teams first choice hooker. When he arrived the club was not far outside of the relegation zone but the team is now well in line to make the play-off´s and sits in fourth position behind only Toulouse, Clermont and Toulon. Creevy has been recieving plenty of game time and has been joined by fellow Argentine players Lucas González Amorosino, Maximilano Bustos, Santiago Fernández, Juan Figallo and Martín Bustos Moyano. Creevy has kicked on and is playing to a high level on a regular basis.

He is entering the 2012 international season as a player who could make a significant impact. His presence around the park is like a hooker but he has added speed which makers it tougher for the opposition to tackle him. He also has the ability to stand in the tackle and offload. It has been called the Sonny Bill Offload here on Argentina 2023 and with good reason as Creevy has shown great strength to stand and off-load to a team mate and this has resulted in tries. Should he succeed in transforming his form for Montpellier into The Rugby Championship then he could be very exciting. He is, without question, a player to watch out for this year for Los Pumas.

Week One: Juan Manuel Leguizamón

Week Two: Lucas González Amorosino

Week Three: Marcelo Bosch

Week Four: Agustín Creevy

Week Five: Juan Martín Hernández 

Pampas XV 2012: Five players to watch out for

For the previous two seasons, the Pampas XV has been a great launchpad for many Argentine based players to get a professional contract with teams in Europe. Over the past two years 21 squad members have gone onto get professional contracts.

This season there are not expected to be so many players leaving the Pampas XV as teams in Europe are now more wary of signing Argentine players. But there are a few players in the squad who could be hidden gems and be unearthed in the upcoming Vodacom Cup.

Last year the stars were Juan Imhoff, Maximiliano Bustos, Nicolás Sánchez, Agustín Creevy, Leonardo Senatore, Agustín Gosio and Joaquín Tuculet all of whom got professional contracts in Europe and Bustos, Imhoff, Gosio and Sánchez were all long shots to get in the Pumas World Cup squad at the beginning of last year but they all were named in the final squad on the back of their Pampas XV form.

Here are five players who could catch the eye of big European clubs and the Pumas selectors over the coming campaign.



Bruno Postiglioni
A player moved about massively across the front row, in the recent URBA Top 14 competition he started in all three front row positions and even once at lock. Although versatility is an asset too much of it will hinder his career and he will become Guiñazu take two. He played loosehead prop in last year’s Vodacom Cup, but this year, the selectors seem to be pushing him as a hooker. This tournament will be a big opportunity for him, if he is successful then without a stand out candidate for the Pumas reserve hooker spot this year he will be the lead candidate. He has good pace for a front rower, and memorably went on a 20 metre burst against the Sharks XV in last year’s competition, but his scrummaging with a weaker prop in Juan Gómez rather than Maxi Bustos by his side will be a litmus test, and the selectors will also be keeping an eye out for whether his lineout throwing (a weakness of Agustín Creevy) is up to scratch.

(Video: Bruno Postiglioni's break in the Vodacom Cup semi final, he was running so fast he toppled over in the end! Imhoff scored in the corner after his break thanks to a fantastic offload from Creevy)

Tomás de la Vega
Like Postiglioni, de la Vega also has a good chance of reaching the Pumas side this season. Seen as a genuine openside, something that Argentina haven’t had in recent years, it’s because the Pumas have lacked a genuine openside which is why if he does well in the Vodacom Cup he could be seen as the Pumas answer to the supreme Tri Nations opensides, although maybe not this year. de la Vega will have plenty of competition to start in the Pampas XV side with several members from the Pumas World Cup squad in the side this year.



Martín Landajo
A sniping scrum half, Landajo was very impressive throughout last year’s tournament described as “the quiet spark at the back of the scrum” by South African TV channel Supersport, he scored three tries as well as providing for others. With another good tournament he shouldn’t be ignored for the Pumas, he at least better than Alfredo Lalanne who was very lucky to be selected for the World Cup.

(Video: Two bits of play which show Martín Landajo's strengths, the first clip is a try against the Welwitchias the second him setting up a try against the Free State Cheetahs in last year's Vodacom Cup)

Santiago González Iglesias
Was rotated with Nicolás Sanchez during last season’s campaign before Sánchez was preferred for the finals. But González Iglesias is like Sánchez a good goal kicker, and the Pampas XV should be able to rely on him throughout the tournament. He should get good competition from Benjamín Madero who has been a part of the Jaguars set up a while. Whilst the Manny Edmonds lookalike González Iglesias is unlikely to win Pumas selection due to the Pumas having depth in the 10 position, this may make European teams more interested in signing him next season.



Manuel Montero
The star of the Pumitas Junior World Cup campaign last year, Montero is full of potential and could be a wildcard selection for the Pumas this year. A tall, strong runner Montero has the same dimensions as France’s Julien Malzieu and looks very much like a young version of him. Montero still has a lot to learn, but definitely could be a star of this year’s tournament and in the future bring some strong running into the Pumas side.

(Video: Manuel Montero at the 2011 Junior Rugby World Cup where he was a star, he has shown great promise so far and a successful Vodacom Cup could make him an outside bet for him to play some part in the Pumas squad this year)

Adios y Gracias Rimas Alvarez Kairelis!

11 years at Perpignan

Saturday was a big day in the lives of some former Pumas World Cup stars and a special one for the former 44 time capped secondrower, Rimas Alvarez Kairelis. The 37 year old played rugby for the final time in a tribute match for his Buenos Aires club, Pucurá. Joining Alvarez were two others who won Bronze with Los Pumas in France 2007, backrower Lucas Ostiglia, centre Manuel Contepomi and captain Agustín Pichot as well as a host of other important names. After eleven years of blood, sweat and tears for Perpignan in the Top 14 Orange, Rimas Alvarez Kairelis wanted to end his career on a heartfelt note. He wanted his final match to be with his friends at the place where it all began - Pucurá.  

Alvarez Kairelis vs France, RWC 2007

Alvarez Kairelis is a true warrior. He made his international debut in 1998 vs Paraguay  and he went on to play in two Rugby World Cup´s and contributing significantly to Argentina´s groundbreaking campiagn in 2007. For many Pumas players it was like a home World Cup as it was in France. For Rimas Alvarez this was certainly the case as he was a long term key player for Perpignan, winning the French Championship in 2009 and helping the side into the Heineken Cup Final in 2003. Perpignan lost the final with Alvarez in action and he also competedin the 2004 and 2010 French Top 14 Finals. He played a total of 223 matches for Perpignan, scoring 20 tries. He scored 3 tries for Argentina in his career. 

Source: Rugby Fun

Rabo Direct Pro 12 Wrap - Round 16

Aramburu returned for Glasgow

The sixteenth round of the Celtic-Italian League, known as the Rabo Direct Pro 12 for sponsorship reasons, was played this past weekend, starting on Thursday. While the Top 14 Orange had a break, the RaboDirect Pro 12 had a a full round of six matches. Teams were missing players, some more so than others. It worked out well for Connacht who won vs Edinburgh. In general the stronger sides were severely depleted but not entirely. Bottom placed Aironi were robbed of a victory by a last minute try. Players from the Americas were in action, again illustrating how much of a contribution the region is making to global rugby. 

Scarlets 34-20 Benetton Treviso

Welsh region the Scarlets started the sixteenth round of the competition with a home in in Llanelli that helps the teams chances. Benetton Treviso´s great early season form has deserted the team as it continues to slide down the standings. The Italian side had a number of Argentine players in action with Ignacio Fernández Rouyet, Franco Sbaraglini, Pedro Di Santo and Gonzalo Padro all starting. They were joined by three others with Augusto Allori, Diego Vidal and Gonzalo García all coming into the match from the bench..

Ulster  15-14 Ospreys
The Northern Irish side´s win put the team on the verge of the Semi Final´s zone. The Ospreys, meanwhile, still lie in second place but now only lead Munster by a single point. USA age grade representaitive, Hanno Dirksen started agains for the Welsh region  on the right wing. Canada´s Chauncey O´Toole did not feature however and was in fact in Canada. 

Munster 16-13 Cardiff Blues
A match greatly influenced by players missing to Six Nations duty  saw Munster maintina its strong run to moev to within one point of the Ospreys. The Blues, in contrast, fall behind the Scarlets but have little danger of dropping further due to the twelve point gap that separates Cardiff from Treviso.

Connacht 26-13 Edinburgh
Friday saw an Irish triple as Connacht defeated Edinburgh to end its miserable run of losses. Edinburgh´s embarrassing defeat means it now faces the unlikely but real possibility of getting the wooden spoon. The same team has qualified for the Heineken Cup Quarter Finals and will host Toulouse. Two Argentine players features for the Scottish side in Friday´s match with frontrower Ulises Gamboa coming on in the 56th minute secondrower and Esteban Lozada in the 73rd.

Glasgow Warriors 10-10 Leinster
Competition leaders, Leinster, failed to deliver in Scotland on Saturday as a team missing many players to international duty played against the fourth palced Glasgow Warriors. The Scottish side was also missing players but, seemingly, it not have the same kind of impact. The drawn match means neither side changes its position in the standings. Former Pumas winger, Federico Martín Aramburu made his return from injury for the Scottish side as a replacement in the 63rd minute. Canada´s DTH van der Merwe is yet to play for the club all season due to shoulder surgery.

Aironi 9-10 Newport Gwent Dragons
Italian side Aironi were very unlucky to lose at home to the Dragons on Sunday. The Italian side had been in firm control of the match until conceeding a try with one minute remaining in the match. The try was decisive and gave the Dragons a rare away victory. As such, the Welsh region moves up the ladder and now occupies 9th position. The Italian side had two Argentine players in its starting lineup with Matias Aguero playing loosehead prop and Gabriel Pizarro playing inside centre.

Rabo Direct Pro 12 Standings

1 Leinster 59
2 Ospreys 48
3 Munster 47
4 Glasgow Warriors 43 
5 Ulster 41
6 Cardiff Blues 40
7 Scarlets 40
8 Benetton Treviso 28
9 Newport-Gwent Dragons 25
10 Connacht 24
11 Edinburgh 23
12 Aironi 15

* Currently inline for a place in the Semi Finals.

Aviva Premiership Wrap - Round 16

Horacio Agulla scores for the Tigers

While the French Top 14 had a bye round due to the Six Nations taking place, it was action as normal in England´s Aviva Premiership. The weekend saw a full round of matches in what was the 16th round of the tournament. Players from all three of Argentina, Canada and the United States of America were in action with one of the interesting points being the continued good form of Argentina´s Horacio Agulla. The Leicester Tigers winger went over for a try and had another solid match. The clubs earlier comments that he will not be resigned due to the late finish of The Rugby Championship continues to be a key area of debate that will not go away. 

Sale Sharks 46-34 London Wasps

A highly entertaining match saw Sale continue to mount pressure for a place in the top four. The six tries to two win gives Sale the maximum five points while the London Wasps return home without a point. The possibility of relegation is far from vanishing for the Wasps either as the Worcester Warriors are now seemingly out of jail and the Newcastle Falcons not giving up at all. Uncapped Argentine winger, Joaquin Tuculet came into the match in the 65th minute for Sale while USA Eagles World Cup outside centre, Paul Emerick came on for the Wasps in the 55th minute.


Worcester Warriors 16-11 Saracens

A good time for last seasons second division side to host the reigning champions given the teams amount of players missing to Six Nations duty. The win means Worcester´s chances of dropping back to The RFU Championship are very low. Saracens, despite losing, remain in second place and on track for a home Semi Final. Argentine-Italian prop Carlos Nieto started at tighthead for Saracens while USA Eagles fullback, Chris Wyles played the match on the left wing.

		Leicester Tigers 42-15 Newcastle Falcons A bonus point win at Welford Road sees Leicester´s poor early season form continue to fade from the memory. The six tries to two win means Leicester are now just one bonus point win behind Saracens. The Falcons´ failure to seize the opportunity against a team missing plaeyrs to Six Nations duty means Newcastle remain eight points behind the London Wasps and stuck in the relegation zone. The Tigers fielded two Pumas players. Horacio Agulla started on the right wing and Marcos Ayerza started at loosehead prop. Agulla scored a first half try and played until the 61st minute. Ayerza was substituted in the 67th minute.
		Exeter Chiefs 9-12 Bath Rugby Bath left Exeter happy after winning a tryless match by four penalties to three. Bath remain well off the pace for a place in either the Aviva Premiership play-off´s or for a place in next seasons Heineken Cup. Despite the result, Exeter main inn the zone for a place in the Heineken Cup and in touch with a spot in the play-offs. Both of the Chiefs´ Argentina backs started with Ignacio Mieres playing the first 62 minutes at flyhalf and kicking all of Exeter´s points. Gonzalo Camacho played the full 80- minutes on the wing.
		Gloucester 29-23 Harlequins The public at Kingsholm were treated to an  upset win that moves Gloucester into fifth position in the Aviva Premiership. The Quins remain on top thansk to the clubs highly impressive early season form but the team is looking anything like championship material at this point in the season. Both teams fields frings Pumas players. The one time capped secondrower, Tomás Vallejos Cinalli started for the London based side and played the full 80n minutes. His teammate, Benjamin Urdapilleta did not feature, however. Matias Corteze came on for Gloucester at hooker to play the final three minutes.
		London Irish Exiles 23-30 Northampton Saints A late try saw the Saints collecta late win at the Madejski Stadium in Reading earlier today. The result sees Northampton move to within one win of second place. London Irish, in contrast, have been experiencing a significant slump and have now dropped to eighth position in the standings. Both teams had a North American in action. The USA´s Samu Manoa started in the backrow for Northampton while Canada´s Jebb Sinclair returned to action for the first time since having surgery on his thumb. The Canadian entered as a replacement in the 64th minute. Aviva Premiership Standings 1 Harlequins 56 2 Saracens 50 3 Northampton Saints 46 4 Leicester Tigers 45 5 Gloucester 41 6 Sale Sharks 40 7 Exeter Chiefs 40 8 London Irish 35 9 Bath 34 10 Worcester Warriors 31 11 London Wasps 23 12 Newcastle Falcons 17 * Currently inline for a Semi Final´s appearance * Facing Relegation Sale Sharks vs London Wasps Worcester Warriors vs Saracens Leicester Tigers vs Newcastle Falcons Exeter Chiefs vs Bath Gloucester vs Harlequins London Irish Exiles vs Northampton Saints

Los Jaguares 55-10 Rosario

Manuel Montero scored twice

Los Jaguares´ third and final friendly match in Argentina, prior to Los Pampas XV´ Vodacom Cup debut was a success as the team made up of players who will compete in the South African competition completed a solid win over Rosario. The city is the home town of a number of Pumas´ players such as Manuel Carizza, Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga, Juan Imhoff, Tomás Vallejos Cinalli, Nicolás Vergallo and Leonardo Senatore, who was at the match. 

The points scored by the Daniel Hourcade and Mauricio Reggiardo trained team were scored by Manuel Montero (2 tries), Roman Miralles (2 tries), Martin Garcia Veiga (2 tries), Martin Landajo (1 try), Ramiro Moyano, Facundo Barrea (1 try) and Madero Benajamín and Ezekiel Faralle who added conversions.

 

Remarkably, the game was played before a great crowd, they took the opportunity to fairwell  players who will represent the country in the Vodacom Cup, starting on March 9.

Los Jaguares

 

1 Roberto Tejerizo

2 Bruno Postiglioni

3 Juan Gomez

4 Mariano Galarza

5 Santiago Guzman

6 Julio Farías (Captain)

7 Tomás De la Vega

8 Tomás Leonardi

9 Martín Landajo

10 Benjamin Madero

11 Manuel Montero

12 Mathieu Orlando

13 Juan Pablo Estellés

14 Facundo Barrea

15  Roman Miralles

 

Rosario

1 Franco Manavella

2 Juan Prieto

3 Santiago Sodini

4 Anibal Schiavo

5 Federico Alloggio

6 Franco Massucco

7 Pablo Colacrai

8 Nicolás Galatro

9 Pedro Escalante

10  Alejo Bertoya

11 Dan Isaack

12 Jeronimo de la Fuente

13 Maximiliano Nannini (Captain)

14 Juan Rapuzzi 

15 Francisco Cuneo.

Summary:

 

Halftime: 12'try Manuel Montero (J); 21'Penal Bertoya convert (R);

Partial Result: Rosario 3 to 29 Jaguars

 

Second Half: Martin 4'try Landajo; 12'try Roman Miralles converted by Madero (J); 18'try Ramiro Moyano (J) of Roman 21'try converted by Ezequiel Miralles Faralle (J)

Partial Result: Rosario 3 to 29 Jaguars

 

Third time: 5'Martín converted by Ezequiel Garcia Veiga Faralle, 10'try Juan Crespi Baetti converted by Gonzalo (R), Manuel Montero 13'try converted by Ezequiel Faralle (J), 19'Martín converted by Ezequiel Garcia Veiga Faralle ( J), Facundo 27'try Barrea converted by Ezequiel Faralle (J).

End result: Rosario 10 to 55 Jaguars

 

Statements:

 

Santiago Guzman (R.C. Tucuman - Tucuman): "We were able to reverse what we did wrong against  Tucumán, notably through a more aggressive approach, we went with another head, but the important thing is that we are improving and strengthening our system of play."

 

"Rosario played very well, the truth is that it proposed a good system of play and it cost us a difference in the first half. Then we were able to get us players and major differences. "

 

Juan Pablo Estelles (Rosario Athletic - URBA)

 

"I'm happy with the performance, it was good participation in our last friendly before traveling to the Vodacom Cup. Keeping  in mind that we played a tough team and proposed game, such as Rosario and we must be content, though of course there are always things to correct. "

 

"In our game and are less and less things to iron out for next week. We are now waiting to go and then we prepare for competition in South Africa. "

Source: UAR

Contracts for returning players?

Others to follow Fessia home?

The potential of Argentina successfully hosting Rugby World Cup 2023 continues to grow stronger as the UAR is seeing through significant changes to the landscape of Argentine rugby. While the process of getting Los Pumas into the Tri Nations is complete the union has also started signing up players in Argentina who will be able to concentrate 100% on their rugby. The list of ten players is expected to grow and, indeed, include players returning home for Europe. Toulon backrower, Leonardo Senatore is expected to return while Leicester winger Horacio Agulla and Biarritz secondrower, Manuel Carizza are to additional examples of players who may well return to South America. The trio were all member of the World Cup squad and are all certain to continue playing for the national team regardless of whether they play at home or abroad.

The details are yet to be officially released as to how much money the ten players are to be paid but it has been suggested in Argentine cources that it is to be a generous amount, albeit smaller than what is on offer in Europe.   The players being signed are ones who have been singles out as being in line for international duty at the highest level this year. They are also players in positions in which Argentina tends to lack European based players who are recieving plenty of game time for successful teams. It is for this reason that four of the ten players signed are backrowers as this season Argentina only has Juan Fernández Lobbe, Juan Leguizamón and Leonardo Senatore as backrowers of note in Europe. Genaro Fessia joins Julio Farías, Tomás Leonardi and Tomás de la Vega on UAR contracts. Fessia had signed for London Wasps before Rugby World Cup 2011 but was released after the club said he was too expensive for them. His return to Argentina saw him re-enter the PladAR set up for Los Pampas XV and get a contract with the UAR. Similar things could be on the cards for Senatore who despite impressing for Toulon he will not be resigned by the French club. 

Could Senatore sign for the UAR?

Besides backrowers, the six other players who signed with the UAR are Gabriel Ascárate (centre), Tomás Cubelli and Martín Landajo (Scrumhalf), Mariano Galarza and Santiago Guzmán (secondrow) and Bruno Postiglioni (hooker). This is a strong indication of the strenghts of Pumas players currently in Europe with flyhalves, wingers and fullbacks performing strongly as well as the traditional Argentine powerful area of prop. Players in these positions are mostly locked into long term contracts or are presently renegotiating to remain in Europe.

Should a player leave then would he be signed by the UAR? The answer would appear to be an overwhelming yes just like in the case of Genaro Fessia. The union will be  significantly more income this year than in previous years due to the added revenue from participating in The Rugby Championship which will bring in significantly increased television earnings. The UAR will also have deeper pockets simply by hosting twice as many test matches and doing so at large venues. The UAR is also negotiating with new sponsors with Nike to replace Adidas and do so by paying more. The scenario that this paints is a highly positive one for Argentine rugby as it means the union can complete its desire of signing top players and allowing Argentina to have its own professional set up.

Tucumán to host Argentina vs France?

Tucumán´s Estadio Monumental Presidente José Fierro

It is to be a rugby wonderland in Argentina this year as all of Los Pumas´ home matches are to be played in different cities. Following the UAR´s confirmation that San Juan will be the host venue for Argentina´s June test vs Italy, Córdoba announced it had secured one of Los Pumas´ two June internationals vs France. The location of the second test vs Les Blues remains unknown with the UAR infact yet to announce the venue of either of the two Argentina vs France matches. According to Tucumán source 7 a la Siete the second match will be played in the Northern Argentine city of Tucumán. The source indicates that governor, José Alperovich has confirmed that his city will host the match. 

Should Tucumán host the match it would mean a significant change in the landscape of home test matches for Los Pumas. The UAR has traditionally used mainly Buenos Aires while moving the odd match to the provinces. This year, however, will see Buenos Aires´ neighbouring city and provincial capital, La Plata host Los Pumas´ home match vs New Zealand. Argentina´s home matches vs Australia and South Africa will be played in Rosario and Mendoza while, according to 7 al la Siete, Tucumán will join San Juan and Córdoba for Argentina´s three home matches in June. This all goes to underline Argentina as a phenomenal option to host Rugby World Cup 2023. With the likes of Buenos Aires, Mar del Plata, Resistencia, Salta, Santa Fé providing additional quality options as venues rugby´s biggest tournament could be excellently hosted by Argentina.


Tucumán is known as a rugby heartland and has produced many Pumas players. The city contributed two players to Argentina´s squad for Rugby World Cup 2011 - backrower Julio Farías and flyhalf Nicolás Sánchez. In addition to Farías the city is home to two other players under contract with the UAR - centre Gabriel Ascárate and  secondrower Santiago Guzmán. 

Brive and Agen win Top 14 matches

This weekend was due to be a bye round for the Top 14 Orange. The reason being France´s Six Nations match vs Scotland. However, with snow terrorizing much of Europe in recent weeks two matches were rescheduled, both taking place on Friday evening. Strugglers Lyon and Brive fought it out at Matmut Stadium in Lyon while Agen played host to the fourth placed Castres at the Stade Armandie. With Brive and Agen both coming out on top the pressure will now pile up significantly on Lyon who sit occupy the fourteenth and final place in the competition. With the bottom two automatically being relegated, Lyon need a miracle of some kind to start winning or the team will indeed be relegated. Agen, in contrast are now on the verge of returning to the Top Six and thus could make the play-offs and qualify for next seasons Heineken Cup. 

Juan Manuel Leguizamón

Lyon 22-9 Brive

With both teams desparate for a win as neither is safe from relegation, the chances of a free-flowing match were low. Brive went out to a 6-0 lead in the 19th minute but the home side fought back and the scores were 9-9 in the final minutes before the interval. Los Pumas backrower, Juan Manuel Leguizamón was yellowcarded in the 39th minute and Mathieu Belie gave Brive a three point advantage at the break. The secondhalf was dominated by the referee who handed out two yellow cards and two red cards to each team. Former Pumas loosehead prop, Pablo Henn reciving one of the two red cards. Henn had come into the match from the bench in the 49th minute and was red carded one minute latter. Fellow former Pumas frontrower, Pablo Cardinali started for Brive while a contender for Argentina´s number 9 shirt, Agustín Figuerola came into the match in the 63rd minute. Leguizamón started for Lyon.

Agen 23-12 Castres

Scelzo on defence

Castres maintained its record of failing to score tries. The Scotland of French rugby kept its reputation alive as the team continues to ensure it wins matches but struggles to ever cross the line. In recent years it has seen Castres qualify for the Heineken Cup and advance to the Barrage Finals but winning the play-off´s matches has not transpired as the team has always been outscored in the tries department. Agen´s win means it could make the play-off´s at the expence of one of the two Parisian teams or even Castres.  The match featured Uruguay´s Rodrigo Capó Ortega who started in the secondrow for Castres while the Argentine pair of tighthead prop Martín Scelzo and centre Miguel Avramovic both entered for Agen from the bench. Scelzo came on in the 37th minute and Avramovic in the 66th. Belisario Agulla did not feature nor did the injured USA winger, Kevin Swiryn.



Top 14 Orange Standings
1 Toulouse 69
2 Clermont 61
3 Toulon 52
4 Montpellier 48
5 Castres 48
6 Stade Français 42
7 Racing Métro 41
8 Agen 40
9 Bordeaux-Begles 37
10 Brive 36
11 Perpignan 33
12 Bayonne 29
13 Biarritz 25
14 Lyon 24 


* In the play-offs zone
* Facing Relegation

Esteban Lozada - Destination France?

Lozada while at Toulon

Former Argentine international secondrower, Esteban Lozada has told Argentine sources that he desires a move back to France. He currently plays for Scottish side, Edinburgh whom he joined in 2010 after previously having played Toulon from 2007-2010. The Rugby World Cup 2007 Puma could well be back in France after having been linked to three different French clubs, all of which play in the Top 14 Orange. The three clubs interested in his services are Perpignan, Bordeaux-Begles and Agen. All three are in the bottom half of the 2011-2012 standings but all are highly likely to survive the season and remain in France´s top flight next season. 

Lozada has been recieving plenty of game time with Edinburgh but, nonetheless, wishes to return to France, a country with far more Argentine players than Scotland. A return to France may well be on his mind but what he really desires is a return to international rugby after having been overlooked for Rugby World Cup 2011 and not playing for Argentina since 2010. His last appearance came off the bench vs Italy in Verona that November as he replaced Manuel Carizza who elft due to a broken arm. Patricio Albacete also missed the match with injury. The 30 year old Lozada has played seventeen tests for Argentina sicne debuting as a replacement vs England in 2006.

Córdoba confirms it will host Argentina vs France

The Estadio Mario Kempes in Córdoba will host Argentina vs France

Following the confirmation of San Juan as a host venue for Los Pumas this year the question remains as to which two venues will be used for France´s two test tour of Argentina. According to local newspaper, El Mundo de Córdoba, Argentina´s second largest city, Córdoba has been awarded one of the two matches vs Les Bleus. The newspaper confirmed the first of two matches will take place on June 16 at the renovated Estadio Mario Kempes. The newspaper´s source is from the local government with the President of the Agencia Córdoba Deportes (Córdoba Sporting Agency), Emeterio Farías, confirming his city has secured the match.  

It will take place seven days after Argentina take on Italy in San Juan and means that 2012 is truely a revolutionary year for rugby in Argentina as the UAR are taking games to the people rather than utilize Buenos Aires for all or most of its matches. Buenos Aires is likely to be confirmed as the host venue for the second test vs France to be played on June 23. If so, it will be the only test in the capital this year. Buenos Aires´ State capital, La Plata, located close to Buenos Aires will host Argentina´s home test vs the All Blacks. Argentina´s third largest city, Rosario will host Australia and Argentina´s fourth largest, Mendoza will host South Africa. Such is the superb distribution of matches that Argentina is appearcing increasingly strong as the leading candidate to host Rugby World Cup 2023.

Los Pumas´ last visit to Córdoba was not a happy one as players involved in France´s Top 14 Orange Final were unavaliable due to the final taking place on the same day. Argentina was playing without stars including Patricio Albacete, Mario Ledesma and Martín Scelzo. Coach, Santiago Phelan was also experimenting with players and rested some forwards and backsn such as Marcos Ayerza, Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe. The match was Juan Martín Hernández´ first since Rugby World Cup 2007 but he left early with a broken hand. Italy scored a late try to claim a 13-12 win.

The match looms as a special occassion for the inform Martín Bustos Moyano who is from Córdoba. The Montpellier ace goalkicker was left out of Argentina´s World Cup squad despite contributing heavy to his french club´s appearnce in a first ever Top 14 Final. Córdoba had one World Cup Puma in the form of backrower Genaro Fessia, a try scorer vs Romania. 

Source: El Mundo de Cordoba

Argentina vs Italy confirmed for San Juan

Estadio Bicentenario, San Juan

Argentina´s international season continues to take shape. The UAR´s pledge of taking rugby to the provinces in a bid to expand rugby´s market across the country has a record of success and this has led Argentina rugby´s governing body to utilize San Juan for Los Pumas´ first international match of the year. The Estadio Bicentenario in San Juan will host Argentina vs Italy which means the venue and city is backing up twelve months after hosting a World Cup warm-up match vs a South American XV. The match saw Argentina run out comfortable winners by a scoreline of 78-15 but served as good match practice with a number of fringe players being given a chance to impress. 

The match in San Juan is to be Los Pumas´ first of three home matches in the month of June. The remaining two will be played against France at two yet to be determined venues. The front runners  to host France are Argentina´s two largest cities - Buenos Aires and Córdoba, but there is a good chance that Salta could host a match. 

Los Pumas vs South American XV, 2011

Complete Pumas International Schedule

June 09  Los Pumas vs. Italia San Juan, Argentina Test Match
June 16  Los Pumas vs. Francia Argentina Test Match
June 23 Los Pumas vs. Francia Argentina Test Match

August 18 South Africa vs Los Pumas, Cape Town
August 25 Los Pumas vs South Africa,  Mendoza
September 09 New Zealand vs Los Pumas, Wellington
September 15 Australia vs Los Pumas, Gold Coast
September 29 Los Pumas vs New Zealand, La Plata
October 06 Los Pumas vs Australia, Rosario

November 10 Wales vs Los Pumas, Cardiff
November 17 France vs Los Pumas, venue tba
November 24 Ireland vs Los Pumas, venue tba

Paul Emerick spare tackle on Olly Barkley

The United States of America had a good campaign at Rugby World Cup 2007. Despite not winning a match the USA Eagles prevented England from scoring a bonus point and came very close to defeating Samoa. The North Americans performed below par vs both Tonga and South Africa as both matches took place four days after the above mentioned games. The USA was never 100% due to the short turn-arounds but nevertheless did score some good tries, such as Taku Ngwenya´s try vs South Africa which was voted try of the year. As a result the USA felt it did not put in the performances that it should have and key members of USA Rugby felt that their team should have defeated both Tonga and Samoa.

One of the key reasons for not playing as well as possible was the loss of key back and the teams most high profile player of the time, Paul Emerick.  The then Welsh based outside centre had his World Cup ended in the first match of the campaign as he put in an ugly tackle on England´s Olly Barkley. He was yellow carded for what was a red card tackle and subsequently suspended for the rest of the tournament. The tackle merited suspension but the unforunate thing for Emerick and the USA was that it occured with time up on the clock.