The poor results of the Pumas and Jaguares over the last two years led the Argentine Rugby Union (UAR) to make changes in their organisational scheme from the small and young – but important – professional Argentinian rugby that had been in the hands of Daniel Hourcade.
The first change was made at the beginning of the year, with the entry of Mario Ledesma as Jaguares head coach, replacing Raul ‘Aspirina’ Perez.
Reflecting on what we saw in Super Rugby 2018, this was very positive in terms of results and also in terms of the professionalism of the players on and off the field.
A second change was the departure of Los Pumas head coach, Daniel Hourcade, after a very bad performance in the June window that did nothing but confirm what had been coming for over a year – an incoming suitable replacement.
In the first week of August, Mario Ledesma was announced as the new head coach of the Pumas, having demonstrated the changes he could exercise in Jaguares and considering transferring those changes to the national team.
It’s too early to tell who will be in charge of the Jaguares next year, but the most noise is around Gonzalo Quesada. The former Puma has played in two World Cups and is the record-holder with 31 converted penalties in 1999.
As a head coach, he took Stade Francais to the title in the French Top 14 during the 2014-15 season.
The first match of the Pumas will be on August 18, when they face the Springboks in South Africa.
This leaves very little time for preparation, taking into account these same players not only played all Super Rugby season, but also will represent Los Pumas in the June window and will need to rest.
The task of Ledesma and his staff will be to put a competitive team on the turf beyond the results.
If we are guided by what we saw from the Jaguares, despite the great improvement that we all could see, the task will not be easy since the demand will be different and greater in the Rugby Championship.
(Steve Haag/Gallo Images/Getty Images)
To start, the team has to improve defensively, because in the last three games they conceded more than 120 points, and many of them very easily. At the international level we know that staying in the match is very complex when you concede more than two tries, and therefore this is the main focus.
In other words, the plan must be to score points when the team is playing with momentum but to concede few points in the minutes that the opposition regains the upper hand.
The Jaguares in 2018 showed they have firepower in attack and that when they arrive in the scoring zone they return with points, so the attack isn’t the biggest worry.
The second aspect is the scrum. The Jaguares finished last in this statistic and have several problems, especially in the first row where, for different reasons, Argentina is short of players and are not looking likely to solve them in the short term.
The rules of the scrum in Argentine rugby, both for youth and adults, are different from international ones.
The domestic scrum rules attempt to avoid serious injuries but are also preventing the development of players in positions that we all know are keys to every game.
If we add a couple of players who emigrated to Europe and some others who are injured, the coaching staff is facing a difficult scenario to solve.
This is that much of a problem that Mario Ledesma asked the UAR to review the current ruling that prevents players in Europe from playing for Los Pumas and the request was taken into account.
For extraordinary cases of urgency, requests for exemption will be considered, and the only requests made at the moment are for front rows. Judging by the words of the UAR president, the union will be satisfied and so maybe the scrum will see some improvement.
[latest_videos_strip category=”rugby” name=”Rugby”]
The third theme is a recurring one in Los Pumas: how to maintain the intensity of the game for 80 minutes and not to fall down in the final 20.
The Jaguares have already shown they can play the 80 minutes with intensity – they’ve won games in those final fateful minutes, therefore demonstrating that it isn’t a matter of physical shape.
Against the Super Rugby teams, the Jaguares bench is competitive and, in some instances, superior to the ones of several teams. But if we look at the benches of the Springboks, the Wallabies, and All Blacks, all comprise starters in their respective teams.
The possibility for these nations to select players from four or five teams is a huge advantage when it comes to forming a strong bench. The Pumas cannot compete and the solution is not around the corner.
I think with Ledesma as head coach, we are going to see a team that is a little different from Jaguares in terms of the use of the ball. The attacks will be made from the opposite end of the field and not from everywhere. These attacks will be based on a strong line, which happens to be the set piece that improved most since Ledesma’s arrival.
If we add to this the intensity, the speed and the possession of the ball, I think we will see a competitive team playing against the other three that will also be testing new things and new players with one eye on the World Cup in Japan in 2019.
The first match against the Springboks carries with it the possibility of an upset since it is very likely that they will not have the Lions players available as they were involved in the Super Rugby final.
EMS Delpogetto
Guest
I would like to create a comment that goes around enoughly to be heard in Pumas. It can be unbelievable how little things are so important. I`m a `tv trainer´ but maybe in this case I could dicover what its hidden about pumas scrum, so its game, and final result. Agustin Creevy has no body, and weight to be Hooker, he should return to winger, scrum winger. Thanks for the cooperation, for Pumas and rugby competence. Good luck in Japan to everybody/team.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Thanks Malkel, always a good support!!!
Maikél
Guest
Hello nobrain, your article is intelligent and reflects with precise details (Impeccable) the situation of Los Pumas. We know about the limitations, but with the entry of Ledesma, Quesada and the rest of the staff we can move forward. A wise old man said: STEP BY STEP, INCH BY INCH. I greet everyone, with my deepest respect for those who teach us to see what we sometimes do not want to see.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
You are more than welcome. I fear the same, but also I think that all the other participamts face some dificulties also and they may want to test some players with an eye pointing to next year World Cup. I think that the performance of LP was so poor thé last couple of years that the bar is so low and patience will be there for Mario from rugby fans.
Fionn
Guest
Nobrain, I just want to thank you for this article, I thought it was great :) . I wonder how good the Pumas could be if they had access to their overseas players. I think that they could contribute hugely, but with only the Jaguares players coupled with the tough draw that Argentina has I fear it might not be a great rugby championship for them.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Thanks Dave, RCH is a a much harder challenge than Jaguares becuase of the depth the other three countries have. It will be a much different situation if the players that are in Europe are aloud to play to have a stronger 23 players to match benches, however I think that opening the gate for all those players that area abroad would weaken Jaguares. Having only one franchise it gives UAR no other choice than finding another strong competition for a second team and develop depth for Los Pumas from there.
DaveR
Guest
Good article Nobrain. I dont think people should underestimate the improvement in the Jaguares in 2018 over 2017, ending up with 38 points from 9 wins. The same number of wins as the Australian Conference leader, the Waratahs. Given their draw, its a great indicator for the future. Having seen them play twice this year, their cool headed captaincy and never say die attitude is to be admired; Australian teams could certainly improve in this area. Whether it translates to Los Pumas....?.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
UAR has announced today that GONZALO Quesada will be the coach of Jaguares next season .
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Thanks Shop!! It is matter of what is more important for Sanzaar: SR or RCH. I am under the believe that a strong SR team will lead to stronger Pumas. The lack of a second profesional team in a competitive tournament has to be solved to be able to develop more players to compete with Jaguares players over the Pumas spots. In another point I a happy that al least next year Jaguares will start the competition here and then travel to SA. May be this a trial to seek different schedules for RCH.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
One thing that bugs me every year, which you didn’t mention is the schedule. It is simply unfair that Argentina have to travel to SA first every year, effectively making their travel time double before the matches. Very true. But both Pumas and the Boks have a worse schedule than the AB's and the Wallys. Remarkable that SANZAAR is using the same unfair schedule year out and year in. Just goes to show what ignorant amateurs they are. But hey, next year the Jaguares starts their season at home for the first time (with a whopping three straight home games). And just when you thought there is a light in the tunnel, SANZAAR decided that the Sunwolves gonna start their season at "home" in Hong Kong. Because that is how SANZAAR works, force the weakest team in the comp to play home games away from home so they can get a few extra frequent flyer points...
Shop
Guest
Nicely written NB. I was under the impression the European based players were going to be considered this year, guess not. This is a real problem for SANZAAR because they really have to choose between a strong Pumas in the RC or string Jaguares in SR. Argentina just don’t have the resources to have the same exclusion policies as Aus/NZ. I see a huge upheaval in SR on the way and believe it won’t be long before los Pumas are given priority. One thing that bugs me every year, which you didn’t mention is the schedule. It is simply unfair that Argentina have to travel to SA first every year, effectively making their travel time double before the matches. Looking forward to the game Mendoza in a few weeks time and looks like I’ll be trekking to Salta this year to watch the Wallabies! Saludos.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
I agree. SANZAR at the time made the offer for two teams but UAR was not in financial conditions to have two teams. It is of my understanding that there are negotiations to have a second profesional team playing the Currie Cup.
Pinetree
Guest
Thanks for the article Nobes. Looks like it will b a tough year for the Pumas during the transition period of establishing the new coaching systems. Shame that the Pumas cannot select players outside of SR. It is a difficult balance to try and keep a competitive team in SR and a competitive Pumas team. If you allow selections from the NH clubs as well, the Jags would most likely have a departure of players going north, which weakens the SR team, but only selecting from SR makes a weaker Pumas team. Argentina needed 2 teams in SR when they entered to increase the pool of talent selections, and have potentially 2 teams with different styles of play. It was always going to be tough with only 1 team in SR. I think Arg should push SANZAAR for another team, as I am not sure how true development can happen without 2 teams to select from.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Hahaha, I do not have the courage to engage in that type of explanations. But if you do, be my guest!!!!
Nobrain
Roar Guru
For sure, but Argentina has move up in the ranking to avoid playing death pools in RWCs
Nobrain
Roar Guru
Thanks Origin, I think the important matter is that changes are taking place and UAR reacted, may be not at the pace we like, but is adjusting. We have to managed our anxiety and wait to see the impact of the new changes before jumping to a conclusion.
Carlos the Argie
Guest
Hi Nobrain, I think you should explain the argentine way of monitoring and playing scrums. It will be of much value to the non-Argie. I think it is crazy but who knows? Having an "extra" referee on the opposite side of the scrum as well. I heard that Quesada had been offered "something" before but he requested to take the reins after the RCH and this annoyed the UAR who wanted Queso to genuflect right away. Typically, there's politics again. Somehow, there is also talk that Ledesma has other copy relationships, but not with Creevy. I was impressed, if the stats are true, that the Jaguares went from 12 YC last year to only 5 this year. This immediate change in discipline is remarkable. I don't have the number of penalties committed but it would be good to see, as well as the percentage of tackles missed.
Johnno
Guest
2019 world cup UAR will pick there best side so the likes of Bosch and Isa will play at the world cup etc
Origin
Roar Rookie
Thanks Nobes! Good read. Super Mario has done a great job as Jaguares head coach and hope he'll also lead Los Pumas brilliantly too. Thus, I agree with all your conclussions for the urgent and pressing needs of Los Pumas. Yet, there is a lot to be done by UAR (Argentina Rugby Union) in terms of consistent structural future of rugby in Argentina. UAR and Super Mario (and Quesada as well) should set these terms to move Argentina rugby to the next level and everyone embrace, abide, stick and apply these terms. So, again I agree Los Pumas, Jaguares and other Argentine teams need discipline, but also rugby union, provincial unions, clubs need a sole and clear discipline too. Otherwise, Argentine rugby shall be stuck in some possible brilliant moments which will never translate into significant real progress. Cheers mate.
Nobrain
Roar Guru
The one thing I am sure is that they will play with pride and pasión!!! That is Mario ‘s trademark!!!