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Cape Town - Argentina may be forced to rethink their selection policy if they do not have a successful Rugby Championship campaign this season.
That was the word from los Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade, who is still confident he has enough depth for this year's competition despite heading into this year's tournament without their star from last year's campaign, back-rower Facundo Isa.
The 23-year-old has since signed for Toulon, meaning he cannot play for Argentina as they have a policy of selecting only locally-based players in non-World Cup years.
Hourcade feels if Argentina do not improve this year, the policy may be changed. However, having the majority of the squad together for the year with the Jaguares in Super Rugby has been beneficial.
The 59-year-old believes he has picked the strongest possible squad for the campaign which begins against the Springboks this Saturday in Port Elizabeth.
He is hopeful that Argentina will add another couple of wins to the three registered since they joined the tournament in 2012.
"Clearly we are improving but so are the powers and quite a lot," he told Reuters.
"We're going to come up against a confident South Africa after they won their three Tests against France (in June).
"They have not lost their essence in physical contact but with dynamics you did not see before, (playing) a game more in accordance with Super Rugby as shown by the Lions, Stormers and Sharks."
