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The Argentinian Pumas remain an enigma of sorts in international rugby. Long ignored by the established rugby fraternity, they have finally been accepted into the big boys club yet are still a little unsure of how they exactly fit into the big picture.
Almost like a teenager at an adults’ dinner party, not quite sure whether they belong at the main table.
Their players, scattered all over the world but predominantly in Europe, tend to favour a forwards oriented approach to rugby, where collisions and scrum prowess almost define their right to call themselves men. This approach and the fact they are yet to play Super Rugby means their style of play is poles apart from their Rugby Championship rivals.
The Pumas make South Africa look like the Harlem Globe Trotters of international rugby. You would be more likely to see Victor Matfield or Richie McCaw doing the tango in a Buenos Aires piazza then the Pumas play expansive end-to-end attacking rugby.
The Argentinian players, as big and bloodied as the huge T-Bone steaks they apparently consume for breakfast, lunch and dinner, get by on a mix of emphatic emotion and supreme aggression. I’m told it’s not unusual for the players to intentionally butt heads with each other in the changing rooms as a pre-game ritual, yet these same players can then be seen moments later weeping inconsolably through their national anthem.
It’s the type of behaviour that Anglo Saxons can only describe as strange and crazed, yet for these Latin Americans this is passion, pure and simple. And that’s what makes the Pumas special, and that’s what makes their addition to the Rugby Championship so exciting. They add the unexpected, not just a different style of play but an entirely different psyche and culture to go with it.
The Pumas, who are now in their third year of the Rugby Championship, are still searching for that elusive first win. They have come so close, in 2012 there was a 16-16 draw with South Africa and a four-point loss to Australia. Then in 2013 there was a five-point loss to South Africa and a one-point loss to Australia. Then again last weekend they had the Springboks on the ropes before succumbing in the final minutes. It’s been a case of so close yet no cigar in the Rugby Championship.
For the Pumas, winning the collisions and dominating the set piece is their bread and butter, it’s how they play the game. We often use the word bully and South Africa in the same sentence, but not usually in the context of the South Africans being bullied, which is exactly what has happened the past few weeks.
Though strangely, this is what holds the Pumas back. A game over-reliant on forward play and physicality has resulted in backs that can’t quite cut it at international level. The simple execution of exploiting space and knowing exactly when and where to pass seems foreign to them, in much the same way as the Italians in the Six Nations.
This will come though, and the addition of a Super Rugby franchise in Argentina from 2016 onwards could be the real catalyst that transforms Argentina into one of the true powerhouses of international rugby. This franchise will not only allow Argentina to lure its talent home but will also expose their players to the higher risk and fast-paced game that New Zealand, Australia and South Africa are so comfortable with.
The Argentinian backs will hone their skills in Super Rugby and over time we will see their ability to execute in the backs transform. And when that happens watch out.
So when will that elusive first win transpire? They are unpredictable, they defend and attack differently and they play on such a mix of raw emotion and power that they are unique and difficult to prepare against. In Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe and Juan Manuel Leguizamón they possess two of the best performing players in world rugby in recent seasons.
They need to play the perfect game, but as the past few weeks have shown they seem ready to produce. If either the All Blacks and especially Australia don’t prepare properly and pay them the right respect then they could prove a real banana skin, especially in Argentina.
Like not opening a good Malbec too early, the Pumas and their fans may need to realise that they have to be patient and good things can take time. However, this 2014 Puma vintage looks almost ready to pop the cork and get that first win.
And when they do, we will see the players shed a tear or two, we may even see them kiss and hug in celebration, and as fans when that does happen we should embrace it and celebrate the Puma’s true arrival into the Rugby Championship.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.