The Sale verdict on their live scrum/maul session with Argentina
Alex Sanderson has declared himself impressed by Argentina after his Sale side hosted a 29-man squad at Carrington this week made up of a dozen UK-based players, a dozen from the Top 14, three from Italy, one from Japan and one other player unattached.
It wasn’t simply a case of the Pumas using the Manchester-based club’s facilities ahead of their tour which begins against England at Twickenham on November 6, the meet-up also included a live scrum and maul session between Sale and Argentina that the RFU sent a referee along to.
Teams meeting up for midweek practice always has the danger of going awry as they wind up losing the rag with each other, but Sale boss Sanderson has reported that the combined Sharks/Argentina session passed off peacefully with plenty of mutual respect for what both sides did.
“We watch the training and there are a lot of similarities in what they do,” explained Sanderson. “They have a real high tempo, good urgency, good energy in and around what they have been doing but nothing too dissimilar. You can’t reinvent the wheel when it comes to prepping lads.
“They are quite an open environment so we had a good chat with Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe who was back in the building; he is one of our legends who played here for quite a while. So it was a good way to start the relationship and then we had a live unit scrum and maul against them on Wednesday.
“The lads were a little bit nervy because we have a game this weekend and they don’t. They are battling for spots for the upcoming internationals and to go against an international team in midweek could potentially be considered risky by way of injuries and what has happened in the past with certain situations. It was nothing of the sort; it was a session conducted with the utmost respect from both sides.
“There was no cheering and celebrating if one side got a decent outcome from a maul or a scrum. There was really good sharing as to what they felt and what we felt. An invaluable experience really. They changed their session around so they could accommodate us for their set-piece. I only really have got positive things to say about the Pumas, the coaches, and how the lads conducted themselves in that live session.
“The RFU were good as well, they send a referee, Adam Leal from the Isle of Wight. He drove up from the Isle of Wight for his experience and to make sure the session was conducted in the right way. We are really grateful for that as well. It was a good experience.”
Once the camp concluded on Wednesday, the UK, French and Italian-based Argentina players returned to their clubs and are available for selection to play this weekend in the URC, Gallager Premiership and Top 14 competitions. That is in contrast to England, whose squad will have this weekend off once they complete their five-day preparation in Jersey.
It was September 24 when Argentina played their last match in The Rugby Championship, losing to South Africa in Durban, and while they are a team made up of players playing around the world that have to put in the air miles to make their squad work, Sanderson was impressed by the unity he saw among them.
“I was speaking to Felipe about it. They are only a few weeks post-Championship so they have had a little bit of a sabbatical, gone back to their clubs, but it hasn’t been hard for them to pick up where they left off as they spent a long time together.
“Looking at them they were really tight, really good ethos, a good feeling, quite open, so they have obviously got a decent culture there so it’s not too hard for them to slip back into it. There is not a lot of teething time for them to assimilate themselves back into a team where they are surrounded by like-minded people. That is the difference.
“They are all around the world but when they come together they are back with fellow Argentinians so that probably makes it all th easier because you get that kind of sense of home when you are together as a squad.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“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?
12 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.
12 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
37 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
37 Go to comments