The future of Argentina - Superpower or forever an Enigma?
The plight of Argentinean rugby has been one of the game’s most intriguing stories since the turn of the millennium.
The country has been the South American darling in a region that is rugby’s greatest growth opportunity. Argentina’s roll of over 100,000 registered players is producing players with athletic prowess and natural attacking flair to rival any nation.
The unbridled potential is undeniable; the Los Pumas could be a superpower of the game but could just as easily continue to be the enigma it has proven to be.
Going from an afterthought without a ‘home’, they became World Cup wonders placing third in 2007. The battle for a place in one of the world’s top competitions ensued to ensure the team could continue to play top-level international competition. After finding the door closed to the Six Nations they were let into the Rugby Championship in 2012.
Despite that breakthrough, they did not have a club team playing in SAANZAR’s Super Rugby competition until 2016. Their eligibility rules meant those who wanted to play for the Pumas had to stay home despite not having a suitable professional competition to play in.
This was not the ideal foundation for an annual competition against the old powers of the Wallabies, Springboks and the All Blacks. Nevertheless, early results were promising with growing competitiveness. Another strong World Cup showing in 2015 had the world on notice and their future looked bright.
However, the arrival of the Jaguares the following season coincided with an alarming slide for the national team winning just one game in the next two Rugby Championships and losing 21 of 27 games since the 2015 World Cup.
Head coach Daniel Hourcade, who had overseen Argentina since 2013, was on the chopping block. It may have been a case that Hourcade had taken this team as far as he could, as he explained to RugbyPass “the message is no longer getting through to the team, we’ve reached the end of a cycle.”
The same voice over and over again had seemingly lost its impact. He was sacked and replaced by Jaguares coach Mario Ledesma in August, a previous assistant to Michael Cheika’s Wallabies, which has given the Pumas the shot in the arm it needed.
In a rapid turnaround, the future the Pumas once promised is now showing again, a worrying sign for Northern Hemisphere teams ahead of next year’s World Cup.
This has been a breakthrough Rugby Championship under Ledesma and the historic win on Australian soil could be the tipping point for the side.
The downward trajectory of the Wallabies may have finally crossed paths with the upward one of the Pumas, the result on the Gold Coast symbolic of the state of the game in both countries, one in decline and one in growth.
For years, New Zealand fans have watched the Pumas put together a solid half of rugby, perhaps 50 minutes, before failing to stay with the All Blacks. The Wallabies have done it too, but without the flair and X-factor that the South Americans have.
They show unrefined and raw skills, with the kind of natural talent that can construct the sort of tries that leaves spectators in awe. An Argentina vs. All Blacks game now offers a far more entertaining spectacle now than a Bledisloe Cup match, but can’t yet offer the historical significance that Australia does.
The dire state of the Wallabies play shows a nation that has regressed, failing to cultivate skill-based play in the modern era. They have configured robots to play in rigid structures, removing autonomous decision-making from the player’s repertoire. This player must pass to this player and so on, regardless of what’s in front of them.
On top of that, the basic ball handling skills are far below the required standard and the small details required to implement structured attacking plans are missing.
The Pumas were on the other end of the spectrum, playing with freedom and daring enterprise without the strategic balance of structured play and, at times, sound decision-making. Which means their future promises so much more – if they can harness that talent, the ceiling is untapped.
There will continue to be challenges, such as the travel toll on many of the players who play for both the Jaguares and Pumas, which may also explain the dip in the national side’s results as their players adjusted to life in Super Rugby.
“That’s probably one of the biggest problems we have.
“Last season we travelled 186,000km so probably four times around the world. We’re used to that and it is our reality,” said Houcarde in November 2017.
That is also why the 23-19 win over the Wallabies is significant – it was on the road, showing the side is starting to get comfortable with the demands put on them.
They are still a long way off the All Blacks, who trot out an experimental lineup or ‘B’ side every time they play them, but they may have surpassed Australia. They need to back up their performances so far and finish strong with another win over Australia, as well as another competitive showing against the All Blacks.
If they do come away with their third and biggest scalp this weekend, it will show the doubters that they belong in the Rugby Championship once and for all, but this year should have already proved that.
Comments on RugbyPass
Did 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?
10 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.
10 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
34 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
34 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 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 commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to comments