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'I am a rugby player but I am also a rugby fan': Pablo Matera on living out his Crusaders dream
Los Pumas star Pablo Matera was elated after his first game of Super Rugby for the Crusaders after beating the Hurricanes 42-32 in Dunedin last night.
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The 28-year-old has settled into Christchurch where the local Argentinian community have embraced Matera’s arrival, with former All Black captain Kieran Read saying fans have been turning up to his house just to say hello.
Matera is well accustomed to Super Rugby after notching 52 caps for the Jaguares, but described his debut for his new club as ‘something special’ as he spoke to Karl Te Nana during a post-match interview with Sky Sport NZ.
“It was something special, something I was dreaming about for the last couple of months before I arrived in New Zealand,” Matera told Sky Sport NZ.
“It’s been a long journey, I’m really happy to finally experience this and live in New Zealand and play this rugby with the Crusaders. It’s something really emotional for me and my family.”
The former Pumas captain had some flashes with ball-in-hand as well as some industrious work competing at the breakdown where he effected one turnover. He made 12 tackles in defence with one miss.
Comparing the speed of play from the Crusaders compared to his old Jaguares team, Matera described it as ‘the biggest challenge’ for him to adjust to but that this is kind of the rugby he has dreamed of playing since watching New Zealand teams play as a kid.
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“Well it was quick, the speed, the rhythm of the game, I think that is the biggest challenge for me. Obviously it’s hard, but I really enjoyed this kind of rugby that I love to play, I love to watch,” he said.
“I am a rugby player but I am also a rugby fan. I love the rugby here, I have always been watching New Zealand rugby since I was really young. It is a very emotional thing to be here living this experience.”
The Argentinian loose forward admitted he thought playing for a New Zealand franchise was ‘impossible’ until one of his close friends was on the verge of moving to the Blues. When he heard his friend’s story, he started pushing to try and get a chance which eventually came up with the Crusaders.
“One of my mates in Argentina almost came here to play for the Blues. After all the pandemic and MIQ, he couldn’t come here. But that’s when I thought ‘oh maybe there is a chance’. I thought it was impossible,” he said.
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“So that’s when I started dreaming about it and tried to get here. I knew it was going to be hard but I am really enjoying my opportunity here and the possibility of being here.”
Matera said the support from back home has been positive and that ‘everybody’ back home has been missing Super Rugby since their team was disbanded. He hoped that they would support him now he is a Crusader.
“I have been receiving a lot of love, a lot of messages from Argentina back home. Everybody there is missing Super Rugby since the Jaguares are missing from the competition. In a way, we are now part of the competition again. I really hope they follow the Crusaders, I am sure they are.
Although he has switch playing colours, when queried over which country has the better steak Argentina or New Zealand, he could not turn his back on his home land.
“Well that’s a hard one, to be honest you guys have really good steak but I will stick with Argentina,” Matera laughed.
Comments on RugbyPass
“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
16 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments