Argentine players to watch in Super Rugby

The future is bright for Argentinean rugby.

Having impressed any and all that saw them at the Rugby World Cup in 2007, the Pumas were then added to the southern hemisphere’s premiere international competition, The Rugby Championship.

Now, following an equally impressive showing at the 2015 RWC, Argentina are about to see their first domestic team enter Super Rugby, as the Jaguares prepare for their debut season in the new Africa conference of the tournament.

With the majority of the national team playing together and against quality opposition at domestic level, Argentina’s prospects look set to continue to ascend over the coming years.

We take a look at some of the players who could rise to further prominence thanks to their inclusion in Super Rugby, many of whom have the potential to be amongst rugby’s next generation of superstars.

Lucas Noguera Paz, loosehead prop

It may not be sexy, but the traditional strength of Argentinean rugby has been the uncompromising scrummaging of their tight fives. Noguera Paz has been hailed as Marcos Ayerza’s heir apparent for the last couple of years and with the veteran opting to stay in Leicester rather than join the newly-formed Jaguares, that transition could gather pace this year.

At just 22 years of age, Noguera Paz already has 23 international caps to his name, admittedly many of which were won against Tier 2 opposition, and taking on South African packs week in week out should help him refine his art.

Guido Petti, lock

One of the new breed of athletic, versatile second rows, Petti will get his first taste of elite club rugby when he makes his bow for the Jaguares. He has already inked himself in as Tomás Lavanini’s long-term partner in Argentina’s engine room.

Petti will hope to hone his craft against stronger opposition, as well as develop chemistry alongside Lavanini, during the 2016 season and is certainly one to watch. The young lock pairing has it within them to be as good as any in the world and step one on the road to that goal will be developing the skill sets to thrive in Super Rugby.

Facundo Isa, number eight

Aside from a short stint with Toulon where he played just one game, Isa is another Argentine player whose club experience has been limited to the domestic competition in Argentina. He will compete with Leonardo Senatore for a starting spot but given his potential, is likely to be the favoured option.

Isa brings plenty of physical presence with his carrying but it’s his handling skills, notably his offloading, that should be an area he looks to develop with the Jaguares. Physical eights are ten a penny in rugby, but those who can combine that power with subtle hands, such as Kieran Read, Duane Vermeulen and Nathan Hughes, are all the rarer.

Nicolás Sánchez, fly-half

Playing stints in France haven’t agreed with every Argentinean that has taken that route but it’s one that has certainly worked out for Sánchez. The fly-half developed his game at Bordeaux-Bègles before rising to further prominence with Toulon and is now genuinely in the conversation for the best at his position in the world.

He starred at the RWC with Argentina and can be talked about in the same breath as the likes of Beauden Barrett and Bernard Foley, two men who he could face this season for the Jaguares. With a pack capable of keeping him on the front foot and an ambitious back three who will look for the ball, Sánchez’s play on the gain line could be exhilarating to watch this season.

Manuel Montero, wing

Santiago Cordero dazzled the world at the RWC, much as he did two years previously at the Junior World Championship, but it’s another wing who we are focusing on. Montero would have likely lined up opposite Cordero (or in his place) had injury not ruled him out of the tournament and at 6 ft 4 in and weighing in at over 16 stone, he offers a contrasting threat to Argentina’s predominately diminutive wings.

Breaking tackles and finishing in tight spaces are Montero’s stock-in-trade and he should give the Jaguares some much-needed size in their back three. There’s every chance that Montero and Cordero can become as important for the Jaguares and Argentina as Julian Savea and Nehe Milner-Skudder are for the Hurricanes and New Zealand, not to mention providing the same dynamic contrast.