Los Pumas have had notable changes since the Rugby World Cup 2023 Semi Final in Paris against New Zealand. Of the 23 players involved that day, over half have retired, have been overtaken by other players or have been plagued by injuries.
| SEMI FINAL LINE-UP VS NEW ZEALAND |
ARGENTINA
1 Thomas Gallo, 2 Julián Montoya (capt.), 3 Francisco Gómez Kodela, 4 Guido Petti, 5 Tomás Lavanini, 6 Juan Martín González, 7 Marcos Kremer, 8 Facundo Isa, 9 Gonzalo Bertranou, 10 Santiago Carreras, 11 Mateo Carreras, 12 Santiago Chocobares, 13 Lucio Cinti, 14 Emiliano Boffelli, 15 Juan Cruz Mallía
Replacements: 16 Agustín Creevy, 17 Joel Sclavi, 18 Eduardo Bello, 19 Matías Alemanno, 20 Rodrigo Bruni, 21 Lautaro Bazán Vélez, 22 Nicolás Sánchez, 23 Matías Moroni
| STILL A REGULAR – FORWARDS |
The front-row that started the Semi Final will never play together again for Argentina. Francisco Gómez Kodela retired from rugby following the July 2025 home test match against Uruguay. Hooker Julián Montoya remains captain and has now surpassed 100 test caps. Thomas Gallo remains a regular; however, he played for the Argentina XV against Romania instead of Los Pumas against Uruguay. Veteran Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro made his come back in place of Gallo.
The replacement front-rowers will also never play together for Argentina. Agustín Creevy retired from Los Pumas in 2024 and from professional rugby in 2025. Joel Sclavi was moved from tight head prop to loose head by Michael Cheika. Felipe Contepomi has reverted him to tight head and he is the first-choice player in the position. Eduardo Bello was injured against Australia in 2024 and has not played since.
Guido Petti, Tomás Lavanini and Matías Alemanno were the second-rowers who dominated Pumas team sheets from Rugby World Cups 2015 to 2023. The situation has changed under Felipe Contepomi. His most regular second-row starting formation in 2024 consisted of Franco Molina and Pedro Rubiolo. They and Guido Petti are the three second-rowers most commonly used now. In addition, Efraín Elías debuted in 2025.
Flankers Juan Martín González and Marcos Kremer remain regulars. So too does Pablo Matera, who missed the Semi Final after his World Cup ended against Japan due to injury. Santiago Grondona’s World Cup dreams were shattered in the warm-up game against Spain. He made a complete recovery to return to being a regular. His brother, Benjamín Grondona debuted this month as did fellow flanker Nicolás D’Amorim.
N8 Facundo Isa took the year off in 2024 as did his understudy in the Semi Final, Rodrigo Bruni. The opportunity draw Joaquín Oviedo becoming the first-choice N8 in 2024 and he remains the top player for the position now with Isa back on the roster. The position also saw Bautista Pedemonte and Joaquín Moro debuting in 2024. Due to Argentina’s needs, they did so at flanker.
| STILL A REGULAR – BACKS |
Cheika used Gonzalo Bertranou as his regular starter; yet, he did not select him for the Semi Final. Instead. Tomás Cubelli started and Lautaro Bazán Vélez was his replacement. Bertranou was overtaken by Gonzalo García in 2024 and García is positioned as the first-choice player in 2025.
Cubelli has not played for Argentina since the World Cup. Bazán Vélez played in 2024 as one of three, with Berntranou and García; however, he has stepped away in 2025 to focus on Rugby 7’s. Contepomi responded by debuting Simón Benítez Cruz against the British and Irish Lions in June and Agustín Moyano against England in July.
Fly half saw notable change. Santiago Carreras started the Semi Final and also started in the 2025 win over New Zealand in Wellington. However, he is used by Contepomi as a utility. He can start at 10 when required but is more used now at fullback with Tomás Albornoz being the firm starting 10. Nicolás Sánchez, who as the replacement at the World Cup, has retired. Cheika preferred Sánchez to Albornoz on his World Cup roster.
The inside center position is unchanged. Santiago Chocobares started the Semi Final and remains positioned as the starting Pumas 12. Injury in the Semi Final saw Jeronimo de la Fuente starting the Bronze Final. de la Fuente played in all matches in July 2024 but has not played since; a year has passed since his last cap. Justo Piccardo debuted in 2024 while Matías Orlando returned. As of July 2025, Contepomi has Piccardo positioned as the understudy to Chocobares.
Outside center is unchanged. Lucio Cinti started the Semi Final and Matías Moroni was the cover; in fact, Moroni covered wing, and both center positions. He has started in all three positions since the World Cup. As noted, Orlando is no longer a regular while Chocobares is also an option. He started at 13 against Uruguay in 2024.
The wing position has undergone changes. Injuries have seen Emiliano Boffelli gone from a being certain starter to now watching from afar. Mateo Carreras retains his spot as a first-choice Pumas winger. Bautista Delguy, Ignacio Mendy and Rodrigo Isgró have all had multiple starts with Boffelli unavailable. Of the three, Isgró is positioned as the starter when all are available.
Fullback sees Juan Cruz Mallía holding down the starting spot, both then and now. He does, nonetheless, have increased competition. Martín Bogado is no longer his understudy. In 2025, Contepomi started Santiago Carreras at fullback against the British & Irish Lions and rookie Benjamín Elizalde against England and Uruguay.
| RETIRED OR NO LONGER A REGULAR |
| POSITION | PLAYER | CAPS | ACTIVE |
| HK | Agustín Creevy | 110 | NO |
| TH | Eduardo Bello | 27 | YES |
| TH | Francisco Gómez Kodela | 43 | NO |
| LO | Matías Alemanno | 98 | YES |
| LO | Tomás Lavanini | 91 | YES |
| N8 | Rodrigo Bruni | 26 | YES |
| N8 | Facundo Isa | 53 | YES |
| SH | Tomás Cubelli | 93 | YES |
| SH | Lautaro Bazán Vélez | 18 | YES |
| FH | Nicolás Sánchez | 104 | NO |
| CE | Jerónimo de la Fuente | 80 | YES |
| WI | Emiliano Boffelli | 59 | YES |
