A Puma about to make a mark on the Super 14
Roar Guru By Alan Nicolea, 2 Jul 2009 Alan Nicolea is a Roar Guru
- Tagged:
- Bryan Habana, Francois Steyn, French Rugby Union, International Rugby, Juan Martin, Natal Sharks, Rugby Union, Stade Francais, Super Rugby
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French rugby union club, Stade Francais, will bid farewell to one of its best players in Argentine half, Juan Martin Hernandez.
Although his majestic playing skills will be missed in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s about time for the Pumas’ leading player to ply his trade in a hemisphere where Argentine rugby will continue to grow into a recognised force.
Hernandez has just finalised a one year deal to play with South African outfit the Natal Sharks in the Super 14 competition next season, bringing an end to his seven year association with Stade Francais.
It was a successful period for Hernandez in France, winning the Top 14 competition in 2004 whilst also winning the Top 14 best fullback award during the 2006 season.
Hernandez also led the side to the 2005 Heineken Cup final, where they lost to Toulouse.
His time in Stade Francais allowed him to garner the necessary form that would later see him become one of the stars of the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup in France.
Playing in the fullback position, Hernandez masterminded a superb third place finish for the Pumas, after losing to eventual champions, the Springboks, in the semi-finals.
Due to his performances, it was no surprise to see Hernandez emerge as one of the top five nominees for the IRB player of the year award.
Although the award went to South African winger Bryan Habana, Hernandez could still hold his head high, knowing he played an integral part in putting Argentine rugby on the map in 2007.
Two years later and Hernandez is now prepared to take the next step forward not only for himself, but for los Pumas as well.
His transfer to the Natal Sharks was sealed shortly before the rugby transfer window officially closed.
Hernandez’s transfer has been met with sadness in France. In particular, the major French sporting website Le Figaro, who say his departure “is an immense loss for French Rugby.”
But if Hernandez succeeds playing against arguably the finest players on a consistent basis in the Super 14, it will leave a small Pumas mark in the Southern Hemisphere that will hopefully continue to grow in the coming years.
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July 2nd 2009 @ 5:00pm
Brad said | July 2nd 2009 @ 5:00pm | Report comment
He is a very old school flyhalf in many ways with a very good kicking game but he is also a threat with ball in hand when on attack and thats what makes him so dangerous. The sharks have always looked to improve their depth at flyhalf with Michalak, Tony Brown, David Knox and Thierry Lacroix all been involved at the sharks in the last 13 years
July 2nd 2009 @ 5:10pm
Alan Nicolea said | July 2nd 2009 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
Hernandez is also a terrific player on the counter attack, being able to get long accurate passes away to put his backline into space. The try Argentina scored in the third place playoff in the world cup (Arambaru scored it) is evidence of this.
July 2nd 2009 @ 6:35pm
Katipo said | July 2nd 2009 @ 6:35pm | Report comment
Awesome player. Great news.
July 2nd 2009 @ 8:28pm
Knives Out said | July 2nd 2009 @ 8:28pm | Report comment
It’s definitely a shame that Argentine players haven’t been incorporated into the Super tournament. I always thought that Australia would be the ideal destination given the climate and the lack of domestic player depth. It would be beneficial for the top Argentines not to have to play in the long European season and also beneficial for the Australian youth to observe and play with such excellent forwards.
I would offer a word of warning about Hernandez, one that has already been noted by one or two others. Do not put this man in the 10 jersey. The wonderful WC ascent of Los Pumas has engendered a lot of nostalgia and romanticism about Argentina but essentially their style of play was rigid, robust and ugly. Hernandez is obviously a very talented man but some of his plays during that WC were bizarre, which is something that has conveniently been forgotten. Likewise, he demanded that he play in the 10 jersey for Stade this season and his subsequent performances made the adjective ‘Erratic’ look like it had come back into fashion. He just didn’t know what to do with himself and kicked and kicked. I would go so far as to say that the man looked totally inadequate. This ‘Maradonna of Rugby’ is a cock and bull story developed by an antiquated, banal English media. He is a fine, fine full back and I hope the Sharks play him there.
July 2nd 2009 @ 8:41pm
Alan Nicolea said | July 2nd 2009 @ 8:41pm | Report comment
Knives out
Indeed he is best suited at fullback and he is far from being the ‘Maradona of Rugby’. Who is the Sharks fullback though? and would Hernandez be able to displace him? Indeed Hernandez needs to learn to control games against high quality opposition first before being considered one of the game’s real elite players. In the WC semifinal against South Africa, he had his worst game of the tournament against coincedently, the world champions. If he can control a game against the likes of the Wallabies, All Blacks and the Springboks, then the Maradona of Rugby comparisions can start to arise IMO.
July 2nd 2009 @ 8:56pm
Knives Out said | July 2nd 2009 @ 8:56pm | Report comment
The Sharks fullback is the aged Stefan Terblanche, Alan. Hernandez is far superior, reliable as Terblanche has been. That said, Hernandez might prefer to play in the 10 jersey. I hope that isn’t the case. Incidentally, I heard a rumour that this deal is far from done.
July 2nd 2009 @ 9:09pm
Colin N said | July 2nd 2009 @ 9:09pm | Report comment
Alan Nicolea,
He has all the skills, but if he was that good a ten, he would be first choice for Stade Francais everytime, but is competiting with Beauxis for that jersey, and has often been moved back to 15, due to his erratic form.
He reminds me a, bit dare I say, Luke McAlister, a very talented player, who contains all the skills, but lacks control, and if there is such a thing, decision making ability.
Hernandez had a wonderful game against England in Salta, but when England up their game, he lost complete control and struggled.
July 2nd 2009 @ 10:27pm
katzilla said | July 2nd 2009 @ 10:27pm | Report comment
This makes me angry, why does he want to go to South Africa?
He would be absolutely Worshipped in Cane Country.
Hernandezcane………..has a certain ring to it. A complete playmaker (granted 1st 5 isnt his position) like this would be the key to unlocking our first S14 title. Sell off the Beehive to get him IMO.
July 2nd 2009 @ 11:36pm
Knives Out said | July 2nd 2009 @ 11:36pm | Report comment
Mmm.. sunny SA or wet, windy NZ. What modern professional wouldn’t want to play in a stadium called the ‘Cake Tin’?!
July 2nd 2009 @ 11:56pm
pothale said | July 2nd 2009 @ 11:56pm | Report comment
If this happens, hopefully it might start a much greater trend of NH players playing in SANZAR comps – the S14 would certainly benefit from receiving high-standard players who could help to educate and lift the play of others around them.
Australia and SA are likely to be the more attractive countries to play in though.