The Rugby Championship 2025 Preview: Los Pumas Look To Go A Step Further
The Rugby Championship 2025 Preview: Los Pumas Look To Go A Step Further
Argentina eyes Rugby Championship glory in 2025, blending flair, grit and rising talent as the team chases consistency, respect—and a historic first title.
The Rugby Championship still may be without a trophy engraved with Argentina's name, but Los Pumas' continued presence is a testament to their resilience and growth.
Since joining in 2012, Argentina has brought grit, flair and unpredictability to the Southern Hemisphere’s elite competition.
Long considered outsiders, they now enter each edition as battle-tested contenders, capable of shaking the tournament standings and pulling off major upsets.
The 2025 edition again will see Argentina looking to convert near-misses and flashes of brilliance into something more lasting - consistency, credibility and, perhaps, a first title.
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While the traditional southern giants often dominate headlines, Argentina has made a habit of proving doubters wrong.
Historic wins over Australia, South Africa and even the mighty All Blacks have showcased their potential. But their challenge remains endurance - stringing together results across six grueling rounds against rugby's most brutal competition.
With a strong domestic system steadily maturing, and key players gaining exposure in Europe’s toughest leagues, Argentina continues to develop the depth needed to compete.
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This year’s squad once again is a blend of hardened veterans and hungry emerging talent.
Underpinning it all is a national pride and passion few can match.
As they head into 2025, Los Pumas will be looking not only to disrupt, but to define the Championship.
The Story So Far
Since their inclusion in 2012, Argentina has played 63 Rugby Championship matches, recording 12 wins, one draw and 50 losses.
Though still chasing their first title, Los Pumas have shown dramatic improvement, including multiple landmark victories—most notably their first win over New Zealand in 2020.
Statistically, Argentina remains the underdog: a points differential of -867, the fewest wins and the most wooden spoons (nine) among the four nations.
But the numbers only tell part of the story.
Argentina claimed the Puma Trophy against Australia multiple times and earned increasing respect across the rugby world.
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In their short Tri Nations cameo in 2020 (due to South Africa’s absence), Argentina drew with and defeated Australia, further validating its place in the competition.
Argentina's top points-scorer in the competition’s history, Nicolás Sánchez (346), trails only Dan Carter and Morné Steyn, underlining their attacking talent.
While inconsistency has dogged its campaigns, Argentina’s inclusion has helped professionalize the game at home and opened new player pathways.
As they enter their 14th full campaign, the goal remains clear: turn progress into podium finishes and, in time, chase that elusive title.
Head Coach: Felipe Contepomi
Transitioning from being one of Los Pumas’ all-time greatest players to becoming a medical doctor before working his way into the coaching box, Los Pumas’ boss Felipe Contepomi is one of Rugby’s uniquely brilliant characters.
Regarded as a creative genius with a hard edge during his playing days as a fly-half and inside center alongside his twin brother, Manuel, Felipe has returned Los Pumas to their uniquely South American roots.
Bringing a rugged edge to the forward pack together with a flare-filled back line, Contepomi has built on the solid foundation left to him by former coach Michael Cheika.
Throughout his young tenure, Los Pumas already have claimed a few major scalps, with victories over France, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and, most recently, the British and Irish Lions.
Star Player: Juan Cruz Mallia
Without fail, Argentina produces at least one truly special playmaker per generation.
In 2025, Stade Toulousain star Juan Cruz Mallia is the chief attraction in a Los Pumas back line stacked with talent.
Capable of covering just about every position in the back line, Mallia picked up right where the irresistibly exciting Juan Martin Hernandez left off.
Heading into The Rugby Championship, Mallia likely is set to occupy the No. 15 shirt for Los Pumas, unless Contepomi opts for a dual-distribution option with Santiago Carreras, in which case, Mallia will shift to the wing.
Firmly in his prime at 28 years old, Mallia already has achieved a career worth of titles at club level with Stade Toulousain, boasting four Top 14 titles and two Investec Champions Cup winners’ medals.
At the international level, he was a member of the Los Pumas team that advanced to the semifinals at the last Rugby World Cup and undoubtedly will be a key contributor if Argentina is to win a Rugby Championship title in the coming seasons.
Biggest Strength: Counterattack
Kick loosely to Los Pumas at your peril, as the British and Irish Lions learned in Dublin earlier this year.
Firm in their mentality of run first, kick second, Los Pumas will always look for a weak spot in an opposing defense when returning a kick.
Against the All Blacks last season in Wellington, Argentina scored two scorching counterattack tries in the first half en route to a famous victory.
Fast forward to the Pumas contest with the Lions in Dublin, and again it was long-range tries that proved to be the difference during their upset win.
Biggest Weakness: Consistency
You are only as good as your last result.
If this statement were true, then Argentina would fluctuate between being the best team in the world and the worst Tier 1 nation.
In truth, Los Pumas are a fringe top-5 team that lives between fifth and eighth in the World Rankings.
Undone by an inability to back up big performances, Los Pumas have backed up big-time wins with heavy defeats, most notably in last season’s Championship, where they beat both the All Blacks and Springboks, before a week later getting trounced.
Against Australia at home in 2024, they split the series when they really should’ve swept the Wallabies.
Thus far this season, Los Pumas backed up their excellent win over the Lions with a pair of losses to an England side missing their Lions’ players.
Starting this year’s Championship with back-to-back home fixtures against the All Blacks presents a golden opportunity for Felipe Contepomi’s squad. Claiming at least one win should be the minimum; should they complete a series sweep, it would rival any moment in Argentine Rugby history.
Tournament Prediction: Fourth
Welcoming back its big names for the Championship, having opted to rest them for the England series, Contepomi’s side should be significantly stronger than it was in July.
Given the way the fixtures have fallen, Argentina arguably has the best setup it could’ve hoped for.
Getting the All Blacks at home, having beaten them on the road, sets up an opportunity for history with a home win.
Traveling to Australia for two tests is, hands down, the most straightforward prospect, albeit the Wallabies have shown great improvement under Joe Schmidt.
While the potential for a great season is there, until Argentina proves it can back up results, winning a title is a far-fetched prospect.
Argentina Squad For The Rugby Championship
Forwards: Julián Montoya (capt.), Bautista Bernasconi, Joaquín Oviedo, Francisco Coria Marcheti, Lucas Paulos, Nicolás D’Amorim, Guido Petti, Pedro Delgado, Pedro Rubolo, Juan Martín González, Ignacio Ruiz, Santiago Grondona, Joel Sclavi, Marcos Kremer, Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, Pablo Matera, Mayco Vivas, Franco Molina, Boris Wenger.
Backs: Tomás Albornoz, Gonzalo Garcia, Simón Benitez Cruz, Rodrigo Isgro, Mateo Carreras, Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Carreras, Ignacio Mendy, Santiago Chocobares, Agustín Moyano, Lucio Cinti, Justo Piccardo, Benjamín Elizalde, Gerónimo Prisciantelli, Bautista Delguy.
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