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Since their entry into The Rugby Championship Los Pumas have played 11 matches, losing ten and drawing one. But history could have been very different.
Four of the losses losses and of course the draw could have been victories.
In two matches at home against the Springboks and the three matches played against the Aussies, had Los Pumas had the skill and the authority to close these games they could have come away victors.
I feel several issues have contributed toward this victory drought:
1. The team is not as mature and complete as it used to be
Argentina has had problems replacing the crack players we had at the 2007 Rugby World Cup in key positions.
We have not found quality replacements for Mario Ledesma at hooker, Agustin Pichot at scrumhalf and Nicolas Corletto at fullback.
Nicolás Sanchez is a very brave flyhalf with an accurate boot but he is not as brilliant as Juan Martin Hernandez used to be in 2007.
Additionally, we have a very tough pair of centres that defend very very well but they are incapable of breaking the line.
The lack of depth we are suffering is a consequence of the UAR’s decisions, not the lack of potential of our pool of young players.
Between 2012 and 2013 the pool of under-20 players has been outstanding, and they have played and won against the IRB superpowers – but the UAR staff has been too conservative to use them.
Just to give an example, Pablo Matera a product of this pool, is having an excellent Rugby Championship.
I’d recommend to record these names, because in the future you are going to hear and read a lot about them: Santiago Cordero, Facundo Isa, Tomás Lavanini, Juan Cruz Guillemain and Patricio Fernandez.
All of them currently wait for their opportunity.
2. Gameplan
We are in a transitional period, trying to develop beyond our one-dimensional style – but it has been a huge mistake try to develop a new style while we are playing against the top three IRB-ranked teams.
We have a solid forward pack and the new scrum laws favour us, but we simply don’t have the backline to take advantage of it.
Nowadays it seems to be impossible for us to link the forwards with the backs; we play a ten-player game.
Having a relatively old squad makes it difficult to develop a style that we are not used to – particularly when facing the All Blacks, Springboks and Wallabies!
Mistakes in this level are paid with points and we have paid a lot, meaning zero victories.
In the mid to long-term with the arrival of new generations of players, the natural road is to add things to our game, but in the short-term it will not work.
3. Leadership
Former coach Marcelo Loffreda and former leaders of the national squad left their positions to new staff and players but I feel the former leadership was different, perhaps stronger than now.
The new ones haven’t been able to fill that space.
Looking into the future I think we have the proper raw material to become a great team, but we need a clever yet simple mid-term strategy.
If the next coach is capable to mix experienced players with the new ones and solve the problems at hooker, scrumhalf and fullback and look for a pair of centres with the skill to break the line we are going to be a very threatening team.
Perhaps the 2015 Rugby World Cup is to close to improve our system, but I´m very confident looking toward 2019.
We have the passion to do it, a great scrum and a tough defence, we just need to improve our vision of the game.
The forecast for Sunday
Both of the teams arrive in similar conditions – they haven’t had nice tournaments.
And they are not going to risk a lot next Saturday with the wooden spoon going to the loser.
Regrettably I think the Australians will prevail, not necessarily because of their game, but because they have the experience and the understanding of the what is necessary to close out these kinds of matches.
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.