The inaugural Rugby Championship ends this weekend and the mighty All Blacks have continued their World Cup winning form – they have already won the tournament and stand on the verge of a unique clean sweep of victories. But it is the introduction of Argentina, finally invited to play in a competition organised by SANZAR, which has really reinvigorated interest in the Southern Hemisphere’s flagship international competition. A home 16-16 draw against South Africa, and strong (albeit losing) away performances in New Zealand and Australia have justified their place at rugby’s top table. The Argentinians have every chance of winning their final match at home, against a luckless Australian side.
That said, earlier in the summer the signs looked ominous for Los Pumas. The big three Southern Hemisphere sides had won eight out of their ten summer international matches against British and Irish opponents, with only Scotland gaining a rather unexpected midweek win over Australia and England salvaging a final test draw against South Africa. After winning their first summer test in June, Argentina found themselves victim of a huge backlash from France, and they went into their first Rugby Championship match on the back of a 49-10 home drubbing.
Their build-up was also hit by an expected decision from talismanic fly-half Felipe Contepomi. One of the strongest proponents for Argentina to be accepted into an annual top tier rugby competition, Contepomi opted to make himself unavailable for selection for the first Rugby Championship, so he could concentrate on club matters at Stade Francais (do not be fooled by him appearing on the homepage of SANZAR’s official website). Fortunately another ten, Juan Martin Hernandez, also a member of Argentina’s superb third placed 2007 Rugby World Cup squad, was fit to return after three years in the international wilderness, and it has been a real bonus to see the team’s most famous rugby player back playing at the highest level. In the five Rugby Championship matches Argentina have played so far, other backs have demonstrated moments of South American magic; Martin Landajo’s opening score at home against New Zealand and the elusive running of Lucas González Amorosino. But their side’s resolve and strength has come from their forward pack and from one aspect of their physical approach in particular.
As was the case in 2007, rugby fans worldwide have marvelled at the consistency of the collective Argentine rucking. The way their players link arms and together trample over, not on, bodies on the floor, easily pushing opponents off the ball, looks so fluent that many rucks appear unopposed. School masters and youth team coaches from Durban to Edinburgh should use their technique as an example to all young aspiring rugby players. While Argentina have changed coach and many players from the class of 2007 have retired, it is evident that rucking, and a strong set piece, still form the bedrock of Argentinian rugby. Three veterans, one from each row of the scrum, are experts in this area of their country’s rugby philosophy and deserve to end the campaign with a win in Rosario on Saturday evening.
The Pumas have been led brilliantly by Toulon’s Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe. He has carried well, tackled his socks off and been strong at the breakdown. He has certainly not looked out of place against the mighty McCaw, Read and Alberts, and he will undoubtedly make many pundits’ team of the tournament. His longstanding teammates and fellow tradesmen playing their club rugby in France, Patricio Albacete and Rodrigo Roncero have worked just as tirelessly, providing two of the Pumas’ abiding memories of the tournament. In the home draw against South Africa, Albacete made a crucial turnover close to his own try line, under enormous pressure from the Springbok forwards, which proved a telling contribution in securing Argentina’s first points in the Rugby Championship. It was Roncero’s trademark burrowing try, in their away tie in New Zealand, which meant they went into the half time break only 6-5 down against the current World Champions. No mean feat – not many teams would complain at being one point down at half time during a test match in Wellington.
Are Argentina likely to beat Australia? They should be favourites on the back of the Wallabies’ humiliating defeat to South Africa at Loftus Versfeld last weekend. But the Pumas also put in their weakest performance of the tournament and they were destroyed by Savea, Jane and co in a 54-15 home loss to the All Blacks. The stats portray a painful night at the office. Even Lobbe, Albacete and Roncero only made a mere 13 successful tackles between them, compared to the 38 at home against South Africa.
But a nasty concussion to Adam Ashley Cooper and punctured lung to Berrick Barnes have depleted an already injury ravaged Australian squad and this hands the advantage back to the South American outfit. They join James Horwill, David Pocock, Will Genia, James O’Connor, Drew Mitchell and Quade Cooper on the side-lines and the pressure is very much on the remaining experienced members of Robbie Deans’ team. Ioane, Beale, Samo and, fourth choice, captain Sharpe will need to be at their inspirational best if the obliterated Australians are to salvage some pride in a disappointing defence of their 2011 Southern Hemisphere crown (and also possibly prevent Robbie Deans from losing his job).
Albacete, Lobbe, and Roncero, possibly playing in his last test match, will be quietly confident of victory when they run out together on Saturday and do not be surprised if the magic of Hernandez proves the difference in Rosario, which is, incidentally, the birthplace of fellow mavericks Che Guevara and Lionel Messi.
Follow me on Twitter: @AMP_Rugby
No comments:
Post a Comment