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'I didn't expect such a great performance' - Pumas legend Porta on what historic win means for Argentina
Argentina’s greatest player is riding the emotional high of beating the All Blacks and hopes it’s the beginning of something bigger than rugby for his country.
Legendary first-five Hugo Porta watched the game from his home in San Fernando, in greater Buenos Aires, as Los Pumas claimed a famous 25-15 win in Parramatta. The World Rugby Hall of Famer scored all of his side’s points in the famous 21-21 draw against the All Blacks in 1985, until Saturday the closest they’d got to toppling the three-time world champions. Porta watched the game on replay without knowing the score, given the 3.10am local time kickoff.
The 69-year-old said it was an emotional day for him and he didn’t believe it was over until referee Angus Gardner blew the final whistle.
“I was very excited … I didn’t expect such a great performance, it was an amazing result, but as you know you cannot say [it’s over] ’til the last moment.”
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Coming off the win over the All Blacks, Argentina might very well be in the box seat to win it all.https://t.co/NxsVOh05KD
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 16, 2020
Captain Pablo Matera said post-match they wanted to show their under-siege country what was possible amid Covid-19 lockdowns and a grim death toll of more than 35,000, the 10th worst in the world. Porta says he’s in agreement with the man who is now leading his country, as he once did.
“I think it was a big, big message to Argentinians. The country isn’t going through a nice period, so this was an example of what we can do when we are all together and work towards something we want to achieve.”
Porta has reserved special praise for first five Nicolas Sanchez, who scored all of his side’s points in the win, as Porta did in the ’85 draw, in a bizarre piece of symmetry.
“Many people talk about how many points I scored, how many points Sanchez has scored. I think records are there to be broken, so I’m very happy for him having a great performance, especially after not having the chance to show all his potential during the Rugby World Cup.”
The test was the Pumas’ first since last year’s tournament, where they missed the knockout stages in a tough pool against England and France. Porta hopes the history-making win can be the catalyst for a bright future for Argentinian rugby.
“Here in Argentina, we must start talking more about the game and what the game is teaching us and not so much about money and contracts.
“Our players are very special, most of them were born into the clubs in Argentina which is where the blood of Argentinian rugby is. By improving the local competition we will improve our rugby.”
In this year of all years, it’s the ultimate tonic for Porta, ending a 35-year wait to topple the men in black he got so close to beating.
“It’s not only the Covid, but it’s the economy. To survive in Argentina, whenever you are tackled by reality, it’s like on the field — you have to get up and keep on looking forward.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Beautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
4 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to comments