Los Pumas on the verge of their most successful Rugby Championship
As the last two rounds fast approach and the 2022 Rugby Championship will be decided over the next four games, everybody is tapping on the calculator app – because…who uses nowadays a real calculator these days?
Adding and subtracting points trying to understand how this unique Rugby Championship could finish and the different scenarios if offers is an exercise many have done.
The what ifs are matter of conversation in rugby circles.
Consistency, or lack of, has been the tune which means each one of the games to be played is open.
In Argentina, they certainly believe, and what is even tougher for Michael Cheika’s team, they are expecting their team to win.
There have always been high expectations on Los Pumas when playing at home, but they have perennially been the team that could win but would probably not. Winning was mostly seen under the tilting glass of epic than the result of hard work, development, and growth.
The crowds that will fill the Independiente Stadium, after a very late change, and the non-attending rugby community will be wanting their beloved Pumas to claim another Springbok scalp at home, and, in the process, finish the season having beaten the Wallabies, the All Blacks and South Africa.
This would be the greatest achievement regardless of where they finish in the table. Finish at the top would be a side advantage.
This possibility is certainly achievable, of course, also depending on whatever happens with the Wallabies and All Blacks.
The Springboks style of play will not endear them to the vociferous crowd, but captain Siya Kolisi has done wonders in Buenos Aires pushing the Boks friendliness, popping at a club match on Saturday, wearing the colours of the team that usually hosts training sessions for visiting test teams in the capital city of the country.
Both Argentina and South Africa have won four and lost three test-matches this season. Inconsistency, with capital letters, has been the norm in this Rugby Championship which begs the question: what will be offered on Saturday?
Hard to say.
Cheika has been developing a side to compete against the best whilst eyeing the Rugby World Cup now less than a year ahead. So far, they have beaten two of the historically best. South Africa would be a neat addition to that list.
If they could beat the defending World Champions in his first season, his stakes and presence with the team, already very high, will continue to rise.
This fast-rebuilding process has brought smiles to the team and happy teams are more likely to be victorious.
It is hard to imagine a smiling Springbok team after a South African newspaper broke the news that one of them, Elton Jantjies had to return home with team dietician Zeenat Simjee to “attend those personal reports and eliminate distractions to the team’s preparation for the test” as the press release stated.
It was doubtful Jantjies, who has played very little rugby this year, would have been heavily involved in the game against Los Pumas. Yet, these kind of situations for a team can be very distracting.
They will have had almost a week to deal with it, but if anyone benefited from the, let’s say, scandal, it will be Argentina, who have been back at home, happy at training in Casa Puma, their HP Centre on the outskirts of the city.
Playing at home is always special for Los Pumas, more so now that players are no longer based in the country and it is an opportunity to feel the love and support of their fans.
Will Cheika mix and match the team giving players with few minutes under his reign an opportunity to stake their claim? Or better stick to tried and tested?
Tomás Cubelli seems to have lost the battle for number nine at the hands of in-form Gonzalo Bertranou.
When he came on against the All Blacks in Hamilton, veteran first five Benjamín Urdapilleta did some very positive things, albeit in a game whose winner by that stage had already been decided. Who takes the No 10 jersey will explain a lot about Cheika’s mindset.
The tight historical ties with South Africa are big and they not only generated the stage for Los Pumas coming of age in 1965 but have always fought our corner.
This time, there will be no love lost between two sides that are in different stages of development but which are very well positioned to win.
Vélez Sarsfield will provide many answers to players, coaches, fans.
Comments on RugbyPass
Sly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to comments