In an era where constant travel can be rugby’s most debilitating issue for the All Blacks, Boks, and the Wallabies, why is Argentina in the Rugby Championship?
The big three in the southern hemisphere must first go through a torrid Super Rugby schedule, the toughest in world rugby, that requires constant travel within their own country, then two games in the other two.
Travel, travel, travel.
It’s a demanding schedule, bolstered by the three-Test international rugby window in June in all three countries, then back on the energy-sapping Super Rugby schedule until completion.
Let me tell Roarers who haven’t had to constantly travel, if you think it’s an exotic way of life, think again.
In the end it gets you, you end up wondering what city you’re in, and what’s your room number? Cities and room numbers seem to melt into one mess, and you yearn for some relief.
Adding Argentina has the reverse result.
It takes the Boks 10 hours 40 minutes on average to fly to Buenos Aires, plus the return, and they are the closest of the three.
The All Blacks take 13 hours 16, the Wallabies 15 hours 12, and for what? Just to make the Pumas the whipping boys of the tournament?
It’s not as though the Pumas are contributing to better rugby, they haven’t won a game in 12, with their ‘highlight’ a shock 16-all draw with the Boks in Mendoza in 2012, their first season in the Rugby Championship.
So far the Pumas have scored 168 points for, and let in 390, a deficit of 222 points.
But it gets worse. They keep ignoring Rugby law, as a law unto themselves. So to boil it all down to basics, the Pumas can’t win and won’t respect referees.
Historically, the Argentina stats aren’t any better. They have never beaten the All Blacks in 18 meetings, nor the Boks in 17.
Their best record among the big southern hemisphere trio is against the Wallabies, winning 4 of 16 in the 1970s and early 1980s, when they actually enjoyed a 21-all draw with the All Blacks, with legendary Pumas fly half Hugo Porta scoring all the points.
But since then all the Pumas have done is go through the motions, and that’s not good enough.
To date against other nations of import, the Pumas still can’t scrub up to be a competitive country. They have won 12 out of 47 against France, 6 out of 18 against Wales, 5 out of 15 against Ireland, and 4 out of 16 against England.
The only countries where the Pumas are in credit against a side that regularly competes at the highest level are Italy and Scotland, winning 13 of their 19 clashes with the Azzurri and 9 out of 14 against Scotland. But all that suggests is Italy shouldn’t be in the Six Nations, and it should return to the Five Nations.
Since Italy was admitted to the Six Nations in 2000, they have played 75 games, and lost 63. In the 15 years of the Six Nations, Italy has won the wooden spoon ten times, Scotland three, with Wales and France one each.
Both the Pumas and the Azzurri are a waste of space.
And it will never be any different.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
I've read all the comments and hear the feedback loud and clear on this.
Harry Jones
Guest
This article seems rather rude.
Jagman
Guest
So the Springboks come second in 2013 RC and suddenly the Wallabies are the perennial whipping boys? What about 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008... ?
Rob9
Guest
All three SANZAR partners being able to funnel their players into 5 Super Rugby teams and play against each other in a competition that has set the benchmark for domestic standards has aided all parties involved. The Super Rugby vehicle has provided us with a competition to compete with the NRL and AFL because of our non-existent national domestic competition. Due to the limited reach it achieves here while its competitors have continued to bound forward, the vehicle is starting to splutter for us. Rugby slowly slipping off the radar locally will hurt the game far more than a lack of proximity to SA and NZ.
Rob9
Guest
Let us recap here Chivas. “The ONLY reason Australia is competitive is because they have the top two rugby playing nations on their doorstep.” I’d simply suggest there are a few more reasons than that bud...
Justin3
Guest
You have two options when there is a drowning man in front of you, the straw or the foot. I'll go with the latter for you David...
Justin3
Guest
Well said Sheek, surely we can run a multi million dollar business off the back of 3 or 4 Tests a year like back in the good old days? Its outrageous to think we cant find the revenue off the back of such a small number of matches to attempt to pay players to stay in this country. Outrageous I tell you....
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Very droll Chivas, apart from last year the Wallabies have a good record against the Boks. Your comment is smug and like the theme of this piece is somewhat absurd. Sure plenty of work to catch your beloved AB's.
Magic Sponge
Guest
Hog you are 100% right , tribalism comes from club rugby, how and why Pulver and O'Neill let the clubs die is disgraceful and they should be held to account. Club rugby was flowering during the 80s and 90s and now is in the morgue.
Alan
Roar Guru
Argentina pushed the Wallabies in Perth last year, pushed South Africa in Mendoza and actually held a lead against the All Blacks in the second half in La Plata. 2012 nearly saw the Pumas beat South Africa in Mendoza and Australia on the Gold Coast and in Rosario. Not to mention they competed well for 60 minutes or so against the All Blacks in Wellington. Again, Argentina is a work in progress, and when that first win arrives, it will be worth the wait for Argentina fans.
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Andrew, I agree with you and just about everyone else that the premise of this article is completely wrong. But that doesn't mean the Eds shouldn't publish it. What is great about this site is that it is an opinion site, where experts and fans alike get to agree and disagree on all manner of things. The day the Eds start censoring and not publishing articles like this will really be the day when the Roar site starts going downhill.
hog
Guest
You want to base a foreign national rugby team in Perth for two months of the year, to compete in the RC. Do you not see any small issue's with that.
hog
Guest
The game is struggling in Sydney because we don't have a domestic competition to compete with the 3 other codes.
Chivas
Guest
Really Rob. When did Australia become competitive with NZ and SA. I'm not sure but around the 70's was it they won a game or two? No-one said anything about a shrine, but you are living in a cave if you don't appreciate the history of the game and how continual exposure to the AB's has given the Wallabies a leg up. Guess what, the game is also played in schools in Argentina and many in both NZ and SA feel that SR has been propping up Australia's lack of decent internal structures for years. But I guess you could be right and Australia has done it all themselves... and the moon is made of cheese. And that is in much the same way that exposure to Australian cricket has benefitted the kiwis and rugby league probably even more so. As for Aussie teams in the top of SR. Fact is every country has a couple of teams on the top. It's how the competition is geared, if you hadn't noticed.
hog
Guest
And also with everything about the code ultimately designed for Pay TV. WHY DO WE RECEIVE LESS MONEY THAN THE OTHER 3 CODES, who all have a free to air component. Now let me think!!!
Rob9
Guest
Yea forget our rugby schools that are amongst the best rugby breeding grounds on the planet, our local rugby clubs and competitions with long and proud histories and our Super Rugby teams (3 of which are in the top 7 in the comp), all of our success and competitiveness is down to our proximity to NZ and SA. Actually, I propose we set up a shrine to the NZRU and SARU at each and every rugby club and school across the country!! Dead set, if you can’t appreciate the gap that has and continues to exist between Australia and Argentina when it comes to international rugby, you either don’t watch the game or you’re delusional. Shall we pretend that NZ and Australia are level pegging at test level and always have been? And there’s nothing between Argentina and Uruguay while we’re at it! Argentina has always been a reasonably strong rugby nation that has had golden generations like the one back in 2007 that was led by Pichot and included many recently retired and current ageing stars like Contepomi, Hernandez and Fernandez Lobbe. I’ve always had a soft spot for teams like the pumas and have thoroughly enjoyed their successes, but the fact remains there has always been a gap between them and the southern hemisphere’s big 3 (including Australia). It narrows from time to time and when they play out of their skins and one of the big boys has an off day, they have it in them to take a big scalp. But those occasions have been few and far between and the gap remains. I hope it closes completely one day, but I don’t believe copping loss after loss in TRC is doing them any favours.
RollAway7
Guest
Nudgee, there should be a "report article" link to click on
Johnno
Guest
Why is it so wrong to question Argentina's status and role in the RC HardcorePrawn, wow. Many Australian rugby fans don't enjoy watching Argentina play nor want them in the RC. Look at the pathetic crowds at Gold Coast and Perth for the Argie games as proof. Heck even Argie fans other than AB'S games don't turn up. The crowds vs the Boks in Mendoza last year was crap, as was the Argie vs Wallaby game in Rosario crap crowd. The Argie V Scotland game in Argentina in Cordoba the stadium was almost completely empty it resembled a sheffield shield game.
Chivas
Guest
Oj, the addition of the Puma's to the RC hasn't made the Puma's worse, not has it made the RC less. I agree, more needs to be done to ensure the Puma's put in a competitive side and become more competitive. The reason we don't play the Pacific Islands is because they have no money. That is the harsh reality. The Rebels and Force weren't relevant in SR either. And their are many that think they should be ditched, but less than a couple of years ago when they were doing worse. I think Argentina brings money into the equation which is why they are admitted into the RC. I don't understand the basis of your comment, but I am guessing you agree with David?
RollAway7
Guest
Very funny Trev, the best competition for the All Blacks are the All Blacks A team. Lordy loves controversial articles, SA wasn't to hot when they started. Pumas game will improve.