The 2015
Rugby World Cup has had plenty of memorable stories – Japan’s meteoric rise to
giant killers and becoming the first nation in tournament history to win 3
games and miss the quarterfinals, England’s shock exit at the first hurdle, and
the All Blacks completing the greatest exorcism in history on their great Gallic
rivals.
But amidst
all this, there has been one story which has been brewing quietly – the rise of
Los Pumas as a real force in world rugby.
Indeed, it
seems that the brave defeat to the All Blacks at Wembley Stadium in Argentina’s
opener seems to have had a positive effect as they’ve gone from strength to
strength and easily booked only their second ever semifinals spot in Rugby
World Cup history.
Not only
that, they took on Ireland, the reigning 6 Nations champions and the people’s
choice for best side from the North and beat them comfortably. Indeed, their
record against Ireland in World Cups is now in their favour – their last 2
encounters have been victories to the Latin American team.
As it has
been since day 1, Los Pumas’ performance against Ireland was breathtaking to
say the least. Their backs have scored some incredible tries and buried forever
one of rugby’s clichés that Los Pumas are all just about burly rugged forwards
and good scrums.
In Santiago
Cordero, Juan Imhoff and Joaquin Tuculet, Los Pumas now have a world class outside
backline and one to match the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks. Having good
front foot ball and space to work with definitely helps but in the past,
Argentina’s backs have always been their problem.
It is yet
another testament to the strength of the SANZAR competitions and Southern
Hemisphere rugby in general that since joining in 2012, Argentina’s progress and
improvement has been exponential – possibly the fastest we’ve seen since the
Boks returned from their enforced exile due to apartheid in 1991.
It is also
another indictment against the lack of skill and pace in Northern Hemisphere
rugby too; Argentina’s progress pre-2012 was respectable but stymied by the
soggy pitches of Britain and France where all their players spent much of their
careers on and didn’t encourage their backs to develop.
With a
Super Rugby franchise starting in 2016 featuring a side that is virtually the
national team in another team name – think NZ Warriors - expect Los Pumas to
improve even further in the near future.
They
already have a win against the Wallabies and Springboks. Surely, it won’t be a
matter of if, and when, Los Pumas finally get that win over the ABs – let’s
hope it’s not in under two weeks time should they make it to Twickenham for the
Final.
For now
though, in the battle to be Argentina’s favourite no. 10 right now, Santiago
Sanchez who looks like former All Black first five, Nick Evans after a week of
only eating pies, is currently winning that over his injured compatriot, Lionel
Messi. A win over Australia on Sunday – and Argentina’s stuttering start to
their 2018 football World Cup qualifying campaign where they lost 2-0 at home
to Ecuador and drew 0-0 in Paraguay – would make Los Pumas the peoples’ choice
in Argentina this year.
A
remarkable victory for the oval ball game then.
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