Los Pumas are in first place in the World Rugby Sevens Series standings.
That’s not something I was expecting to write six months ago. But here we are! Argentina is at the top of the table, leading South Africa by just two points (118 to 116). As the teams head to England for the first London 7’s since 2019, plenty is at stake. This includes Los Pumas, who will be going for their second gold this season.
Who Are Players To Watch On Los Pumas?
Marcos Moneta is the man to watch. He is the most electrifying man in rugby sevens right now. He scored the most tries in the last two events (Vancouver and Toulouse), putting him third on the most tries list this season. Also included are the 10 tries scored on route to winning the 2022 Canada Sevens in April.
In addition to Moneta, Luciano Gonzalez is a significant contributor to the squad. He has 124 points, the third-most for Argentina this season. Meanwhile, in his first season, Santiago Vera Feld leads the team in tackles so far with 59. Certainly not bad for a 21-year-old.
Los Pumas have scored the second-most points and tries this season. They’re also one of four teams that have made 500 tackles (502) and have played more matches than any team (42). “It’s all coming together…” as Kronk from The Emperor’s New Groove would say.
How Is It Coming Together?
Led by Head Coach Santiago Gomez Cora, Los Pumas is starting to show their true talent. Before last week’s tournament, Argentina was the most experienced squad in the sevens series. Between their 13 players, they had 320 tournament appearances. That combination of coaches and players is leading to success.
Take the 2020 Olympics, for instance. After going down a man against the Blitzboks in the quarterfinals, Argentina powered its way to the semis before taking home bronze. As a result, Los Pumas has three bronze medals this season, more than any other team.
With the help of some bright young stars, Argentina controls its destiny. Winning this weekend’s event would set themselves up nicely for the season finale in LA at the end of August. So, what’s stopping them?
Previewing The Rest Of 2022 For Los Pumas
This weekend, Argentina finds itself in a challenging Pool B. It features the likes of South Africa, Ireland, and Kenya, none of which are easy opponents. However, getting to the knockout stage is a must for this squad.
Certainly, this goes for the rest of the year. In addition to the LA Sevens in August, they will also participate in the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. Both of those are tournaments that Los Pumas could win, especially given their level of play this season.
Going off past results, Argentina won the USA Sevens in 2004 and 2009 while taking bronze at the 2018 event. At Rugby World Cup Sevens, Los Pumas earned silver in 2009 and bronze in 2001. In short, these performances aren’t bad, but there is still another level this team can reach.
To sum up, the last ten months have treated Argentina well. Winning an Olympic medal in Tokyo, a series win in Vancouver, and young stars breaking out. But, as great as these last few months have been, they now face an even more critical stretch of play. It’s important to get points whenever no matter the circumstance. This means London’s calling, and it’s time for Los Pumas to answer.
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