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2024 kicked-off the first of four years of international competition which will culminate with Rugby World Cup 2027. The South American trio of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, from Rugby World Cup 2023, all faced teams from far away as did Canada and the USA.
Some teams were busier than others. Canada and Chile both played seven test matches in 2024. Uruguay played six test matches. The top two from the Americas were the USA and Argentina. The USA Men’s Eagles played nine capped test matches while Argentina played twelve.
Not only did Argentina play the most test matches but Los Pumas also account for the players with the most caps in 2024. Three Pumas featured in all twelve matches. This is of note not only for successfully maintaining a spot in the XV or 23 but because Felipe Contepomi gave different players opportunities across all positions. For instance, six players featured at tight head and Pedro Rubiolo overtook Tomás Lavanini to be the regular starting 5.
Rubiolo had a busy year with ten caps for Argentina. Having been knocked-out in La Plata, Rubiolo sat out the win over Australia in his home province of Santa Fe. He started tests alongside Tomás Lavanini, Guido Petti, and Franco Molina in 2024. Aside from Santa Fe, the other match he missed was against France in Mendoza. Matías Alemanno and Lucas Paulos locked the scrum that day.
Franco Molina is the one second-rower who played throughout the year for Argentina. Molina made his test debut in Mendoza and ends his rookie season with 12 caps. By way of comparison, Paulos debuted in 2020 and has 14 caps for Argentina.
Molina went from Super Rugby Americas glory with Los Dogos to holding down a spot in Los Pumas throughout the year. A highlight of the year was his try against New Zealand in Wellington. It was from a lineout; he was a leading organizer of this area throughout the year. He now plays for Exeter Chiefs in the English Premiership.
Thomas Gallo was a constant for Los Pumas in 2024. He played in all 12 of Argentina’s test matches and now has 35 caps. He overtook Mayco Vivas who has 27 caps. Vivas debuted in 2019 while Gallo did so in 2021. In addition to playing in every match, he started in eleven of the twelve test matches.
Gallo’s only non-start saw him explode from the replacements bench. He came on for Vivas to score two tries in the win over France in Buenos Aires in July. He scored another in the loss against France in Paris in November. As the year unfolded, Ignacio Calles overtook Mayco Vivas to be the understudy to Thomas Gallo.
Tomás Albornoz sky-rocked from being a capped Puma to being the first-choice fly half. He took his non-selection for the World Cup personally and went on to have one of the greatest years by an Americas fly half.
Albornoz’ breakout performance was against Australia in Santa Fe. It was his second test start for Argentina. It followed his start against Uruguay in July. Felipe Contepomi changed the script of both Michael Cheika and Mario Ledesma of playing Santiago Carreras at fly half. He moved Carreras to wing and fullback.
Albornoz scored three tries for Argentina, kicked 28 conversions and kicked 13 penalties in 2024. In total, he scored 110 points for Los Pumas. Albornoz’s three tries came against South Africa in Santiago del Estero and also in Nelspruit plus against Italy in Udine.
