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Argentina World Cup omissions have left Twitter in shock

Juan Imhoff (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Argentina coach Mario Ledesma has named his 31-man squad for the World Cup today, and there are some very noticeable absences.

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With every World Cup squad there are inevitably names that some feel should be in there, and some that should not, but the omission of Facundo Isa and Santiago Cordero may be the most controversial of this tournament. Toulon’s Isa and Exeter Chiefs’ Cordero are part of a contingent of northern hemisphere players that are set to miss out, including Harlequins’ Martin Landajo, Racing 92’s Juan Imhoff.

But it is perhaps the overlooking of Isa and Cordero that is the most surprising.

The elusive Cordero has just come from a sensational season with Exeter, being nominated for the Premiership Player of the Year award. Any fan that watches the Premiership would surely have had the back three ace as a certainty to make the showcase in Japan.

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Likewise, any fan of the Top 14 would have expected Isa to go, as he has been one of Toulon’s leading forwards over the past few seasons, capable of playing as a flanker or number eight. While he misses out, the ageing Juan Manuel Leguizamon will make his fourth World Cup. Although the 36-year-old flanker was great during his prime, few would argue that he is better than the dynamic Isa currently.

In Ledesma’s defence, he has clearly made a point of prioritising players from the Jaguares in Argentina, and after they made the Super Rugby final this year, that may lead to continuity and cohesion in the squad.

But there are some players that are worthy of making an exception for, and many fans on Twitter feel that Isa and Cordero are two of those.

This is what has been said:

https://twitter.com/DanielCane13/status/1163460600682438662?s=20
https://twitter.com/Alexislekao/status/1163459592732454914?s=20
https://twitter.com/CallumVincent/status/1163459283540987904?s=20
https://twitter.com/kowalski79/status/1163458295488753664?s=20
https://twitter.com/cs0mnersmith/status/1163461201214484482?s=20
https://twitter.com/lewstephens95/status/1163464713667272704?s=20
https://twitter.com/danensor/status/1163464284468391943?s=20
https://twitter.com/ChrisJDWatts/status/1163459879606071298?s=20
https://twitter.com/RogerTaylor31/status/1163466211037814785?s=20
https://twitter.com/CallumVincent/status/1163459283540987904?s=20

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Argentina are in a devilish pool this World Cup, competing against both England and France. It will be a hard pool to get out of, and some fans feel that the Pumas have done themselves no favours by omitting so many high-quality players. Then again, England and France fans will not be complaining.

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AM 42 minutes ago
'Freelancer' Izaia Perese shows the need for true inclusivity in Australian rugby

That's Cron's job though. Australia has had one of the most penalised scrums in international rugby for a long time. Just look at the scrum win loss percentage and scrum penalties. That is your evidence. AA has been the starter during that period. Pretty simple analysis. That Australia has had a poor scrum for a long time is hardly news. If bell and thor are not on the field they are woeful. So you are just plain wrong. They have very little time for the lions so doing the same old things that dont work is not going to get them there.


Ainsley is better than our next best tighthead options and has been playing well at scrum time for Lyon in the most competitive comp in the world. Superstar player? No. But better than the next best options. So that is a good enough guide. The scrummaging in the Prem is pretty good too so there is Sio's proof. Same analysis for him. Certainly better in both cases than Super, where the brumbies had the worst win loss and scrum pen in Super. Who plays there? Ohh yes... And the level of scrummaging in Super is well below the URC, prem and France with the SA teams out.


Nongorr is truly woeful. He's 130kg and gets shoved about. That just should not be happening at that weight for a specialist prop who has always played rugby cf pone with leauge. He has had enough time to develop at 23. You'd be better off with Pone who is at least good around the field for the moment and sending Nongorr on exchange to France or England to see if they can improve him with better coaching as happened with Skelton and Meafou. He isn't going to develop in time in super if he has it at all.


Latu is a better scrummaging hooker than BPA and Nasser. and he's the best aussie player over the ball at ruck time. McReight's super jackling percentage hasnt converted to international level but latu consistently does it at heniken level, which is similar to test level in the big games. With good coaching at La Rochelle he's much improved though still has the odd shocker. He should start the November games.

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