With two games remaining in their debut Rugby Championship, the Argentinian Pumas have brought a competitiveness to their games that conservative pundits did to expect to see in their first few seasons. As the new kids on the block they were expected to struggle, maybe not to the extent of a the Suns or Giants in the AFL, but the Pumas lack of consistent big match experience was supposed to lead to a few heavy defeats. With two games remaining, it’s a little early to sign off on the report card just yet but those two games are at home and if we thought we’d seen some impressive rugby on tour, then wait till they are in their own back yard. Just ask the Springboks who returned from South America bruised, battered, and desperately lucky to have salvaged a 16-all draw. And what about their notorious brand of dour, forwards orientated, defensive rugby? Maybe that’s a myth as well.
Tackling Patricio Albecete looks like it would hurt. Like, heaps.
Last night’s game against the Wallabies on the Gold Coast was not exactly an advertisement for the game. In perfect conditions, the performance was a miserable, mistake ridden, unadventurous exhibition but enough about the Wallabies… The Pumas were exceptional and clearly the better team on the night. With old heads like prop Rodrigo Roncero, lock Patricio Albacete and captain Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe in an already tough and physical pack, the Pumas will always start defensively. When the begin to dominate an opposition pack as they did last night, they’ve shown they are more than capable of adapting to an expansive game. Fly-Half Juan Martin Hernandez is world-class and he has plenty of speed in the back three with Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, Horacio Agulla, Gonzalo Camacho. Displaying more urgency the Pumas charged down a Quade Cooper kick which lead to a try replacement forward Tomas Leonardi. Two minutes later, through some scintillating broken field play and a little luck from a touch judge gaff, breakaway Julio Farias Cabello’s support play was rewarded with a try in the corner. It took 19-6 score line with twenty minutes to go to get the Wallabies going with tries to Pat McCabe and Digby Ioane wrestling the game away from the spirited Pumas. At least the Wallabies seem to be developing a tougher mindset with two come tough come from behind victories in two weeks but it’s was the Pumas who had played the better rugby.
The Pumas at their bruising best against the Springboks in their 16-all draw.
The Pumas are proud and passionate. With two home games remaining they will need a victory to consider their maiden season a success. First they face the All Blacks on September 30 in La Plata. The Pumas can push them, as the did for an hour in Wellington last week and the All Blacks won’t be looking forward to the return clash but it’s hard to see the world champions beaten by anyone in this competition. That leaves the Wallabies who conclude the championship against the Pumas in Rosario on October 7th. After last night, the Pumas will have this date circled. This will be there chance. For the Wallabies, they’ve got to sort out their scrum/fly half channel. Perhaps Quade Cooper and Nick Phipps are the two men for the job but they’ll need to simplify and provide quick, slick service. The forwards will need to unify. Individually, players are holding their own but as a unit the Wallabies pack were outmuscled against the Pumas. It’s on tour, when the chips are down and there are 40 000 fans against you, that you see what your team is made of. The Pumas have proven there up to the task. Now it’s the Wallabies turn.
Rodrigo Roncero crashes over for try against the All Blacks. Something the Wallabies haven’t been able to do in their last two clashes.
Pictures by Chris Hyde, Juan Mabromata, and Sandra Mu at Getty Images
