Argentina
Mariano Galarza more than just one player in Pumas' 31-man roster
Patricio Connolly
September 25, 2015
Mariano Galarza  and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe of Argentina get ready for a lineout, South Africa v Argentina, Rugby Championship, Pretoria, August 16, 2014
Mariano Galarza and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe © Getty Images
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CHELTENHAM -- The World Rugby sanction that left lock Mariano Galarza out of the Rugby World Cup was like a bomb dropped at the heart of the Pumas bunker; no-one was optimistic once the incident was reported but a nine-week ban was far more than anyone expected.

Galarza was more than just one player in the 31-man roster. Coach Daniel Hourcade knew him from when he guided the Pampas XV into adulthood, including a Vodacom Cup win. Galarza had even become captain of the Pampas and has always been one of Hourcade's favourite choices for the second-row.

The skinny guy who got his first call-up in 2008 under Santiago Phelan gradually became more and more important for Hourcade, playing a starring role in his lineout playbook. And despite his low-profile, he stood out in a pack that is always regarded as world-class.

Hourcade, always supportive of Galarza, waited for him until the very last minute before naming this World Cup. Galarza underwent shoulder surgery in May, right after returning to action from another injury, which meant that he would be barely fit by August.

But the coach included him in the roster and sent him in to the fray during the second half of the final preparation game, the September 5 friendly against Leicester Tigers. He also went to the bench against the All Blacks, and he put up a convincing performance throughout; except for one unfortunate play right while trying to clean a maul after he entered the field, when he became engaged with Brodie Retallick and made contact with the eyes of the New Zealander.

The rest is history: the incident was reported after the match, World Rugby judged that Galarza was guilty of eye gouging and imposed a nine-week suspension upon him - which means he is out of the World Cup and will be able to play for his club, Gloucester, only after November 25.

In Hourcade's teams, Galarza was always a silent player leading by example - and everyone credits him for the effort he made to be ready for the World Cup.

"It was a deep, sad moment of silence when news came in," Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro said. "It's not fair, after how he fought to be here".

Mariano Galarza in action
Mariano Galarza in action© Gabriel Rossi/LatinContent/Getty Images

"We are in shock," added Juan Manuel Leguizamon at Wednesday's press conference, as the team arrived in Cheltenham. "We are all with him now, but we will not lose focus: we have a crucial game in a few hours."

Matías Alemanno, who will make a bittersweet World Cup debut in Galarza's place, shared Legui's feelings. "We need to get past it and move forward: if we lose [against Georgia on Friday] it will get complicated. We need to show we are up to the challenge."

Which was roughly the same speech of assistant coach Raul Perez, who took over press conference duties while Hourcade was away in London with Galarza. "We need to get over it: we're being tested and we need to show we can get better."

Argentina have confirmed they will appeal against the ban, but the World Cup roster, for the time being, is down to 30.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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