Why Los Pumas' cohesion is their greatest asset

The total Test caps for the Springbok starting line-up against Los Pumas (who have forgotten how to lose) is 412. That’s a record low in this century. Time to really test Fassi, Ox, Kwagga, and Willemse!

Yes.

I agree. However it is difficult for me to see any of the existing teams, URBA less, going pro. It is not in the ADN of rugby in Argentina. Creating a different league is the only way I can see pro rugby develop but the best players will still go overseas just like soccer players do.

Nobrain, you are right. The pandemic only "helped" the decision to ditch current SR. I am puzzled by the lack of interest in SR. I LOVED the rugby and had so much fun watching the games. The fact that they were not perfect and there were errors, made for much more entertainment. Players could take risks and try wild things. Crazy stuff that doesn't happen (much) in test matches. Well, maybe DMac still does it. I am still bothered by the lack of true leadership in Argentina for not understanding the need for 2 teams to help Pumas and SR overall. I am also despondent that they continue to fight the amateur versus professional rugby. You won't have pro rugby without the amateur play. Everywhere in the world players start as amateurs and through selection very few may end up as professionals. This is inevitable. But if Argentina does NOT have professional rugby, it will disappear from international rankings. This is not the "Victorian" age where the rich can have fun for a few years and call it "jolly good". Rugby IS business but I hope the amateur spirit still keeps the sport in balance. Argentine clubs unfortunately live in "la-la" land.

Of course it all starts with Argentinean Club Rugby. I am certainly not discounting the value of that, but the fact that the Jaguars existed, that the Grondona's and Chocobares' of the world could practice (and play eventually) in a professional setting, together with and against super elite players was a tremendous boost to all involved.

I do not think that Jaguares was killed by the pandemia. IMO not having a second team made everybody uncomfortable since Los Pumas where Jaguares and in couple of years would have won SR and that was not good to the economics of SANZAAR . The TV money, which accounts for a big part of the income is not the same if a team from SA and a team from NZ reach the finals rather than Jaguares, when much more money can be made . Besides the trip Argentina was so out of the way and the games in a very uncomfortable time , in special for NZ and AUS, which made the economics and taxing for players to play in Buenos Aires very difficult. The time to close a new deal with TV in AUS and the lack of interest for the competition ( empty stadiums and low ratings)there, was a huge weight to lift for ARU. I think that the pandemic came as a relief for SR to rethink everything again. With SA and Japan gone it was impossible to keep Argentina and the best thing to do was to build a tournament among NZ and AUS teams .

I hope you have Tomas Lavanini on board. I also hope that the Pumas get neutral referee’s.

Spot on.

If I may, and in line with some of what Carlos is writing, I think the Jaguars were an absolute success until they were killed off by the pandemic. And mid-to-long term, they could have been very good for the Pumas, in the sense that they were churning out so much young talent that there was going to be an inevitable need to call-up players from Europe (the Materas and Lavaninis of the world, to name two who left the Jags after the 2019 SR season). My point is that seeing a Grondona or a Chocobares appear out of nowhere during last year's RCh (and I was a Jag fan, so it's not like I wasn't watching their games to see new players coming up), confirms that there was a ton of talent bubbling up. The Pumas will benefit from this pre-pandemic development program for a couple more years. Once that's over and done, we'll see (it's a little bit discouraging that the more interesting SLAR players have mostly ended up in Italy or the French D2).

What ever system the Pumas adopt full credit to there planning. At the end of the day you are only as good as your cattle and boy do they know how to squeeze every drop of talent out each player. Thought the Pumas last year were a revaluation in difficult COVID times. Very simple game plan, sticking to your strengths each player understanding there role and look what they achieved. They have a base to grow off and introducing the right players they will only get stronger. I’m still trying to work out if the wallabies have a base. Will find out out the end of this next series.

The bottom line was that Jaguares reached the final and lost in a very good match to the Crusaders. Argentina still doesn't produce enough quality front rowers. Again, as discussed by Nobrain and myself many times, the local rules hinder the development of good scrummagers.

Anibal, I don't think that they don't care. I think that SANZAAR did care a lot. But remember, they knew they were dealing with Argentines where the unexpected is the most common occurrence. Given the current political/economic situation, independent of COVID, Argentina had no chance to grow in SR. I do not know how to predict the near future for international rugby. I personally don't feel that I know enough about the business and politics of rugby to do so, I am interested in the playing side primarily. Most of politics I learn reading here on The Roar.

Agree Carlos, but I guess is what SR "asked for" to the UAR. As we can see, RAU and NZ did not and do not care, we have to take care of our rugby. Eventually, soccer ways will hit them hard, as we can see in SA. Australia and NZ will suffer big exits to Japan , Europe and USA, there is no turning back. the river can´t be stopped.