Los Pumas new mantra of imperfection driving recent success
“Recuerden este día muchachos. Va a ser de ustedes toda la vida.”
“Remember this day guys. It will be yours for the rest of your lives.”
The handwritten message on a board in the changing room at the Orangetheory Stadium was a clear message for a Puma side facing their date with destiny.
One hundred and ninety-five tackles later, Argentina had beaten New Zealand for the first time in New Zealand.
Pushing the All Blacks to an even deeper hole than the one they were a couple of weeks ago was a by-product of a performance that filled a country – oval heads and general sports fans – with pride and joy.
Argentina is going through one of its many crises – economic and political. I won’t bore you with the deep details; hurtful as the current situation is, whatever good news can take the mind of the beaten up ‘argentinos’ will certainly help.
The fact that the win was a reflection of the hard work and effort put into the performance should be a mirror on which to reflect ourselves.
“Getting that mentality right was important. When you get a first win like this it consolidates the work done,” said Michael Cheika, whose Spanish is getting better as the team grows, a sign of his effort to fit.
“When the game gets difficult and things go against us, we must be strong and enjoy the game. They have the character to do it,” he added.
It wasn’t the perfect game; perfect games are impossible and that is part of the mentality the team has achieved under the new regime. They continuously repeat this almost as a mantra.
It is in this imperfection the team can operate, find its feet, get comfortable and work their game plan the key to their success.
The All Blacks knew what to expect from Argentina. For years, everybody has acknowledged they are a sticky team that is uncomfortable to play against.
They have every player ready to put their body on the line like there is no tomorrow, eight of them were in double figure tackle counts, but they have now added a patience that was not there in the past – as recent as a couple of games ago – you know whoever stands in front is going to be find it hard.
So it was.
Take lock Tomás Lavannini, sent off the most times (three) in test rugby.
He was his usual monster self; with maturity, or as part of the work done by Cheika and his able staff, he managed to be in the thick of things, ‘only’ managing 17 tackles, without the need to overstep those boundaries he so often trod on.
No yellow cards is already a good game, only giving away a penalty is a massive change in approach.
Standing in a lineout next to the massive Marcos Kremer has to be intimidating. His bushman beard, huge shoulders and the knowledge that he is fearful and hard, has a huge bearing on the opponents.
That he can make 26 tackles – it felt like many more – all of them hurting the opposition both physically and mentally, you have to stand and applaud.
Argentina is far from the finished product, players and staff acknowledge this and understand that as a message it is the correct one.
When asked in the post-game press conference about what had changed psychologically within the team, Cheika, in his need to fit, he attempted an answer in Spanish which didn’t make much sense.
It is a question that still needs an answer, which will explain the process that took to this historic win.
Knowing how street-smart the Aussie coach is, maybe they are downplaying that factor.
Whatever the case is, this is a changed team. You don’t get to beat the All Blacks, at home, as down as they might be if you don’t get the mindset right. They lost but they certainly were not as bad a side as some harsh critics make them to be.
It might not be through a head guru, a sports psychologist, or someone of that kind of CV, but the whole team mentally is changing.
Had it not been for an implosion in the first test against the Wallabies in the second half when the team lost its bearings, by giving away penalties by the dozen, it could have been a different story.
They were much stronger in the second test win and now they achieved Cheika’s first test win in New Zealand, a date already stamped in Argentina’s proud history.
Pride was a common thread to this storyline. All those interviewed post-game were quick to point out how proud they were on the work done and thankful of their clubs of origin. Such a common message is part of work behind the scenes to get them on the same page.
Knowing where you come from helps on the road to where you are going.
“When things get difficult and go against us, we must be strong and enjoy the game. The players have the character to do it,” said Cheika.
To which his captain Julián Montoya added: “We go on to the field, but we are many more than 23 players. This is for a lot of people, and we must enjoy the win and continue in this process of growth.”
When Montoya said that his team was so confident that they were “ready to play two more hours” it speaks volumes for the confidence they’ve achieved. The character that was developed.
In a few days, Hamilton awaits for the rematch. Impossible to imagine what that can bring.
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.
10 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.
24 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.
10 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.
17 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