A post by Frank O’Keeffe about the top rugby players made me reminisce of some of the Pumas of my time.
In this brief note, I would like to share a story or reasons for three of the selections.
I played a lot back row and even though I played other positions in the field, back row was my true love. Growing up, you were either a left flanker or right flanker. There was no 6 or 7 position, as it is known now.
I was primarily a left flanker, though on occasion, our coach made stay always in the open. So, there goes my bias. Back rowers first.
Marcos Baeck
Marcos, or ‘El Mandril’ as he was known played for Pueyrredon, my club. He was behind me by three years. I was primarily a second team player, comfortable in my role in the club – good enough to play most of the time, but unlikely to break into the first team, where there were “legendary” players on those positions.
I was a good player, technically very skilled but never powerful enough in the body and mind to make it. Except for once, the starting players were injured and I found out I was being considered to play.
However, they chose Marcos. I was mad and frustrated as I thought I was “entitled” to that spot, but given the circumstance, Marcos was already a star at under 20 level.
I had to admit that it made sense they picked this 18 or 19-year-old kid. He was magnificent. The starters recovered from their injuries and Marcos went back to play U-20 that year.
In retrospect, the club made a wise choice. I could not have played as well as he did. I was not physically in a good spot and in my mind I was already planning my move to the US for my postgraduate studies.
Now I see that I would have probably embarrassed myself if I had played. Even if I didn’t, I could have never played like Marcos. I then moved away and Marcos made it to the first team and the Pumas.
A few years later, the Pumas played in Santa Barbara against the USA and I went to see them practice and play. They invited me to practice with them and I was then again reunited with Marcos.
His game against the USA was remarkable. He had inherent power. He was brutal. When he carried the ball, he was hard to tackle.
When he tackled, it hurt. He was not the most elegant player, but his power and skillset were amazing. His brother, Juan, was a Puma too. He played hooker.
He was like the modern Dane Coles, skilled to the limit but at the time the Pumas preferred another hooker, Cubelli’s dad from Belgrano. I still believe it was a mistake. So, because he ‘took’ my chance for top team honours, I selected Marcos as one of my preferred back rowers.
Tommy Petersen
Tommy played for San Isidro Club (SIC). He is a few years older than me. He was very fast, very brave, and very skillful.
He is probably in most Argentines’ list of top Pumas back rowers. He played for the Pumas for quite a few years and it was a pleasure to watch him. He played like a modern number 7, always there.
One year, and I can’t recall again when, my club’s second team was playing SIC for the semi-finals of the top tournament for second teams.
We were playing at ‘the ditch’ (la zanja) as SIC’s field is called. For us it was a big deal and the coach selected primarily players that had played all year for the second team. I was one of them.
In order to play that game, the rules were that you needed to have played at least three matches that year for the second team.
SIC applied the rules but played as many first team players as they could. Clearly, they were superior and we were going to get whipped.
In the first play I could see that the flanker in front of me was Tommy. I was just flabbergasted, he was my hero, the player I looked up to and now I had to play with him, or better said, against him.
Somehow, I didn’t get intimidated but it took me a while to get focused on my game. As predicted, we were getting beat up badly.
In a few line outs I managed to steal a ball from Tommy (no lifting then) and also block some of the plays through the back of the line out.
At the end of the match, I was leaving the field, a bit dejected as we got killed, but Angel Guastella, the legendary Pumas coach and frequent coach of my club, came to me and told me that I had a brilliant game and that I had matched Tommy that day.
To this day, I don’t think that was possible or true. But I still dream that somehow, that day, I played a little like one of the most legendary Pumas in my list.
Martin Azpiroz
I have never seen Martin ‘el pato’ (the duck) play. He was well before my time. Martin introduced me to club rugby.
I had started playing as a little boy at St Brendan’s, a local Irish school, and when he found out I was interested in rugby he took me to his club.
Martin’s club was not one of the elite ones. It had won the Buenos Aires championship only once in 1953. It was known as a blue collar club. By that time, Obras Sanitarias (as it was called) was always fighting for relegation. But Martin was a legend.
He captained that championship team and also the Argentina national team before it was called Pumas. He was in the cover of the largest sports magazines in Argentina, El Grafico, which was almost always about soccer.
I think it was the first time that a rugbier was in the cover. By the time I grew up, everyone older told stories about Martin.
The mythology was that one year, the French toured Argentina and after the first match, the French stated that they wouldn’t play the second match unless Martin was off the team. The UAR agreed – this wouldn’t happen today.
Guastella, my coach, who played in the national team with, him used to tell me stories of his ferocity and power. Martin was of pure Basque blood.
Thus, he was hard as stone, stubborn like a mule and not the most open minded person in the world. But he was generous and kind to everyone. For years, it was common to see tons of people coming to shake his hand and chat with him during games. He was the tough man for tough men.
I hope that through these brief and a bit emotional vignettes you can see a part of rugby that we usually do not discuss on The Roar. It is a bit more about me than about them, but I hope you see the interaction with them more than the ‘me’ storyline.
Other Argentines will have different players in mind for the list. And I am sure we can agree or disagree. But these three will be in mine. No questions, no debate.
JMGRANDVAL
Roar Rookie
triste historia
Phantom
Roar Rookie
When they played the ABs number 2 team he was the best player on the park and that team included the great David Loveridge and Murray Mexted so that is some call. I will never forget that header, as it comes completely shocked the defenders and the ref gave it some thought not knowing if it was completely legal. A great moment in a rugby.
Javier
Guest
Great story. Nice memories... For me are Pochola Silva, Porta, JM Hernandez..... My all time XV Ayerza Creevy Roncero Branca Tati Milano Petersen Silva Garretón Pichot Porta Turnes Hernandez Cordero 14 did not made his apearence yet...is coming form U21 2016 Sansot Replacements...all the players that once dressed this beloved jersey.
Bakkies
Guest
To me the three have to be Pichot, Porta and Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Thanks, Shop. Mendez was an amazing front rower, despite the knock-out punch to Ackford, who hasn't made much sense since. Ackford wasn't even the one that deserved the punch at the time. My brother saw the movie and agreed it was very dark. I have a picture from 1976, when we played CASI at "la catedral", where many later Pumas played, including Gabriel Travaglini. It was a great game according to the press. We won, I scored two tries against a much favored CASI team. But what I remember very sadly was that Puccio played that game. He is in the picture too.
Shop
Roar Guru
Some great players have blessed the lands of Argentina Carlos, thanks for the insight! I can tell you one of the more famous players in my neck of the woods is Federico Mendez. Unfortunately his ability as a player has often been overshadowed by an incident as an 18 year old against the English. Terrible business about the kidnapping ring. I haven't seen the movie (el Clan) but my father in law did and said it was a brutal story.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
You are welcome, Nicholas. I always enjoy your postings and I am a bit jealous that I can't measure up to you (positive jealousy). So I add my two cents this way.
EELBOY
Guest
Yeah I know Carlos but everybody else is nominating their favourite Pumas too & Martin is definitely one of mine.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
The "yankee" Martin is a great Puma. He is one of the few Pumas not born in the country. Usually, the Pumas are the only team with players born in the country. I say usually, because Martin was born in the USA, even though he lived most of his life in Argentina. My posting is NOT about the best Pumas, it is about stories relating to Pumas that I am very fond of, because of personal relationships.
EELBOY
Guest
Can't believe no one's mentioned Rolando Martin. He could take the ball up & was a valiant defender. In the same class as Petersen.
sheek
Roar Guru
Gee, it's a crying shame the rugby Championship wasn't around in say 1984. Just the battle of the no.10s would be priceless - Mark Ella (Wallabies), Hugo Porta (Pumas), Naas Botha (Springboks) & Wayne Smith (All Blacks). The captains would be Andy Slack (Wallabies), Porta (Pumas), Theuns Stofberg (Springboks) & Andy Dalton (All Blacks). Five key players for each team apart from those already mentioned. Wallabies - David Campese, Brendan Moon, Roger Gould, Steve Cutler, Simon Poidevin. Pumas - Marcelo Loffreda, Rafael Madero, Gabriel Travaglini, Tomas Petersen, Serafin Dengra. Springboks - Danie Gerber, Carel du Plessis, Ray Mordt, Rob Louw, Uli Schmidt. All Blacks - Steve Pokere, Dave Loveridge, Murray Mexted, Jock Hobbs, Andy Haden. Who would Topo Rodriguez play for?
sheek
Roar Guru
Thanks Carlos, I certainly remember Tomas Petersen as Hugo Porta's deputy when the Pumas came to Australia in 1983. Gee, they had strong teams in 1979 & 83, with both series being squared one win each. I was at Ballymore Brisbane in 1983 for the 1st test when the Pumas destroyed the Wallaby scrum with their bajada. The contrast in styles between the two great flyhalfs & captains Mark Ella & Hugo Porta was truly great to watch. Composite 1979 Pumas XV (I think the Pumas originally mimicked the Boks & French by playing their openside flanker in no.6 & their blindside flanker in no.7): Martin Sansot, Marcelo Campo, Marcelo Loffreda, Rafael Madero, Aldolfo Capaletti, Hugo Porta (c), Ricardo Landajo, Gabriel Travaglini, Hugo Silva (vc), Tomas Petersen, Alejandro Iachetti, Marcos Iachetti, Enrique Topo Rodriguez, Alejandro Cubelli, Fernando Morel. Won 1st test 24-13. Lost 2nd test 12-17. Composite 1983 Pumas XV: Bernardo Miguens, Marcelo Campo, Marcelo Loffreda, Rafael Madero, Jose Palma, Hugo Porta (c), Alfredo Soares-Gache, Buenaventura Mingues, Ernesto Ure, Tomas Petersen (vc), Gustavo Milano, Eliseo Branca, Enrique Topo Rodriguez, Andres Courregas, Serafin Dengra. Won 1st test 18-3. Lost 2nd test 13-29. Let's not forget the Pumas dressed up as the South American Jaguars in 1982. They lost the 1st test 18-50 before turning things around sensationally in the 2nd test 21-12: Guillermo Sanguinetti, Guillermo Varone, Marcelo Loffredo, Rafael Madero, Alejandro Puccio, Hugo Porta (c), Alfredo Soares-Gache, Mario Negri, Ernesto Ure, Jorge Allen, Carlos Bottarini, Elisio Branca, Pablo Devoto, Andres Courregas, Serafin Dengra. Petersen had played in the 1st test, but missed the 2nd through injury. Don't you just love those Spanish & other latin names. They have such a romantic ring to them.
sheek
Roar Guru
Alejandro Iachetti was considered the superior brother. I would have Marcelo Loffreda at 13, Madero was a definite 12, but I would have Felipe Contemponi feeding off Porta at 12. I can't find a place for Hendandez in the starting XV, although he would make a mighty sub. Sansot had huge wraps on him, that's for sure.
Frank O'Keeffe
Guest
The 3rd Bledisloe Test of 1984 was Ella's greatest Test in terms of goal-kicking. Ella was entrusted with goal-kicking duties in the 3rd Test of 1984, and IIRC, he landed five from six attempts at the sticks. Campo landed one from two - one of them being from a long way out. And Roger Gould played his only bad Test for Australia, missing several easy (EASY!) attempts at goal and actually dropping a few bombs. Ella's general play was ordinary only because Michael Hawker wouldn't run past him. Hawker got the kicking bug, which he occasionally did. The only way for Ella to support his outside backs is if they bring him back into the game, by running in front of him, which they weren't doing. Bruce Sheekey was there, and could tell you about Australia's inside backs arguing with each other.
Nicholas Bishop
Expert
Thanks very much for this Carlos, I really enjoy these articles where writers speak from their own experience rather than just coughing up opinions.. The three Argentine players I remember most vivdly were a couple of props - Serafin Dengra and Diego Cash - and a backrower called Martin Durand. Dengra would probably have been a propping superstar in NZ. He could get about and handle, he could scrum and he had streaming blond hair like Jean-Pierre Rives! Cash was a scrum monster in the golden age of the bajada, absolutely relentless. Durand was not especially big or powerful or quick, but he never stopped working and tackling. He was made of iron. Thanks once again for the trip down memory lane Carlos :)
taylorman
Guest
Yep, couldn't remember which the stronger one was
Harry
Guest
Sorry Frank, I was definitely wrong. The Sydney game i had in mind when Ella was less than optimum was the following year, 1984, in the decider of that year's Bledisloe series where from memory Ella was entrusted with the goal kicking. But I could be wrong, again. Re Ella v Porter, as I I said elsewhere by that stage Porter was probs past his best and distinctly remember him carrying some condition. Ella was a fantastic player on his day no doubt about it. Personally I thought he played his best rugby on the 1982 Aus tour of NZ when he almost led an understrength Wallaby side to a series win.
Nobrain
Guest
I like the way Aitor played, he was the one that introduce me to play rugby and although Pochola was great Aitor and I had someting in common.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Autor Otaño was not an 8. Hector Pochola Silva was the natural 8. Otaño was primarily a lock. Though in later years he played a bit as 8.
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Not both Iachetti's. Chapa Branca as one lock, definitely. Absolutely. Tito Fernandez probably the other one over a Iachetti.