Ex-Pumas skippers Creevy and Pichot weigh in on the Pablo Matera controversy
Recently disgraced Argentina trio Pablo Matera, Guido Petti and Santiago Socino have received the support from a number of former Pumas captains. The three players were suspended on Tuesday and Matera was stripped of his captaincy for social media posts shared between 2011 and 2013 that were described by the Argentinian Rugby Union as “discriminatory and xenophobic”.
Since then, a handful of former teammates have defended the players. It goes without saying that they in no way have supported what the players had previously said, but they have defended their character today.
Agustin Creevy, Argentina’s most capped player and captain, is one former international to attest to the players’ characters. The current London Irish hooker served as Matera’s captain for the majority of the flanker’s career, although their roles reversed during the latter stages of Creevy’s 89-cap Test career.
Creevy played extensively alongside Matera and Petti for Argentina and played with Socino with the Jaguares. In an Instagram post in response to the recent events, he said that their tweets “do not represent them at all”.
He also defended the reputation of rugby, which has been dragged through the mud in recent days in Argentina due to additional criticism they received for not honouring football legend Diego Maradona appropriately.
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It only goes to show that all glory is fleeting in rugby in Argentina as Matera was enshrined in folklore only two weeks ago after Argentina’s first victory over the All Blacks. Creevy wrote this message in both Spanish and English: “I deeply regret what happened this week with regard to Argentinian rugby. I have the need to express myself with the intention that my words are taken with respect because it is from a place of respect that I say them.
“As a group, we know each other. I know Pablo, Guido and Santiago, and I know who they are today. The sordid tweets they wrote years ago do not represent them at all. They have acknowledged it themselves, felt ashamed and apologised. All people make mistakes, and athletes are not exempt from that.
“I particularly regret the stigmatisation of our sport. I understand that there are behaviours that embarrass all of us who practice it, but this is a sport, like others, practised by people with errors and virtues. Some serious mistakes, yes, where you have to work to improve, as in all areas.
“Rugby is a beautiful sport, practised by people who come from different social classes and different parts of the country. I say this because I have lived and experienced it firsthand, it is not a speech or a managed position. Rugby is a meeting point of great diversity, and that is how it should continue to be.
“Is there a place to improve, to evolve, to grow? Sure, and hopefully this job gets done. Hopefully, more and more people help open up rugby more and more, and more and more kids play and share time on and off the pitch. Let’s try that sport (and if it is rugby, much better) continue to create bridges.”
Former World Rugby vice-chairman and ex-Argentina captain Agustin Pichot also joined Creevy in showing solidarity with the players while also condemning what they had formerly written.
He wrote: “All three players’ tweets were wrong. I believe in their repentance and in their maturation since they wrote it. We have to continue making a deep self-criticism in our sport; this year is showing us that we have to keep improving.
“For me, rugby is not the atrocities that I read or hear; for me, rugby is something incredible and it helps many people to try to be good people and also good athletes.”
This is an ordeal that will tarnish the careers of the three players and something they will carry with them, but they are not being thrown under the bus by their former teammates. Juan Martin Hernandez and Horacio Agulla are two more former Pumas that have echoed the sentiments shared by Creevy and Pichot as the players await their punishment.
Para mi el rugby no es las barbaridades que leo o escucho; para mi el rugby, es algo increíble y que ayuda a mucha gente a tratar de ser buenas personas y ademas de buenos deportistas.
Pero la autocritoca hay que hacerla ya mismo.2/2
— Agustín Pichot (@AP9_) December 1, 2020
No se justifican los tweets de mis amigos Pablo Matera y Guido Petti, pero tampoco se puede pegar como se está haciendo por tweets que se hicieron hace 9 años, ya pidieron disculpas, la gente crece, madura y mejora. @unionargentina están haciendo la más fácil, basta de agacharse.
— Horacio Agulla (@horacitoagulla) December 1, 2020
Las cosas que dijeron los chicos años atrás nadie las comparte. Creo yo, que cometieron un error. También creo en las segundas oportunidades y en los hombres que se convirtieron hoy reconociendo sus errores, pidiendo disculpas, dando la cara y asumiendo sus responsabilidades.
— Juan Martin Hernandez (@HERNANDEZJUANI) December 1, 2020
'Too many years fighting for that moment… I did everything, I gave my life to get this moment, I am part of that’
When @lospumas finally beat NZ @agustincreevy was 10k miles away in London. He recalls the decision that changed it all, w/ @heagneyl ???https://t.co/26M8D8Deel
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 29, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments