World Rugby first came across Argentinean star Bautista Ezcurra at the World Rugby U20 Championship in 2015. At 19 years old, the Buenos Aires-born centre already stood out, and the tournament hadn't even started yet. In the team drop goal challenge, he walked towards the camera with a cacophony of sound behind him as team-mates chanted "Batu". Off camera he cracked jokes with team coaches, confidence abundant.
On the pitch Ezcurra dazzled with some cutting line breaks and a cannon of a boot, leaving many an onlooker impressed come the end of the tournament. It was a solid start to his international career, but a lot has changed in nine months. From the big fish in the U20s pond, to a smaller fry on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series, Ezcurra is now plying his trade across the globe in the shorter form of the game under the tutelage of Argentina head coach Santiago Gomez Cora, still the all-time top try scorer in sevens.
"We are very proud of having him (Santi) with us," said Ezcurra. "When he speaks you listen. It is very clear what an important figure of sevens he is."
Gomez Cora may have earned his position at the top of the all-time try scoring list over a career spanning 10 years, but Ezcurra is already starting to make headway, topping the points scoring table for Argentina this season after four events with 59. He has scored four tries, about 226 behind Gomez Cora, but it's been a decent start nonetheless.
"I am very happy with how it has gone so far. We have a great team and the spirit of the team is enjoyable. We are very serious when we work and the road we have taken is the right one. To be involved in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is great; playing in those stadiums, with those crowds, in incredible cities. It's amazing."
Argentina are currently fifth in the standings, with their most successful tournament of the series so far coming in Cape Town where they lost in the final to hosts South Africa. To even stand a chance of lifting some silverware at the tournament though required Ezcurra to step up and use some of that ingrained confidence built up over his formative years. In the Cup quarter-finals, Argentina were level with New Zealand at 19-19. The clock was up and extra time looming. A penalty was awarded and "Batu" stepped up to slot it and win the match.
"I was hitting the ball well that day and that game specifically and getting that drop was what we needed to get through to the next round," he said. "When we got the chance I was already decided, even before the call came from the bench."
Taking the initiative before getting a call from the bench might seem a little presumptious for a player in just his second tournament, but the normal rules don't seem to apply for Ezcurra. Making a mark on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series is just a first step for the youngster though as the inevitable goal of playing at the Olympics is next on the list.
"Everything is focused on Rio 2016. It would be amazing to be there. Each tournament is part of a path towards the Games," he said. "The Games transcends the world – it is huge! That is why players such as Bryan Habana, Sonny Bill Williams and Liam Messam as well as others want to be involved. We had a small sample of what it can be in the Pan American Games and then that has to be a fourth of the size of the Olympic Games."
