A tribute to the blue wall of Argentina
After South Africa’s decision to withdraw from this year’s Rugby Championship, we all expected the international rugby season in the southern hemisphere to be…
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After South Africa’s decision to withdraw from this year’s Rugby Championship, we all expected the international rugby season in the southern hemisphere to be…
In line with the comments below, the moral irony of this mess should be highlighted. The Pumas got in trouble with the Argentinian press for not paying a proper tribute to Maradona, in the way the All Blacks did. People looked for incriminating tweets published by the players where they were as immature as they got. Maradona, on the other hand, as a full-grown adult celebrated the 9/11 attacks, never apologized for cheating, left (allegedly) three unrecognized children in Cuba, and openly supported the dictatorships of Fidel Castro, Hugo Chavez, and Maduro. He got an official farewell in the government palace and three days of national mourning. Matera got sacked as Captain for things he said as a teenager and over which he feels shames and apologized for. I don’t blame the UAR for the decision. But if I were a Pumas player…I would feel so outraged nonetheless about this whole fiasco.
Matera stood down over social media posts
Yes, absolutely. Not sure if the UAR had any choice. Think about the sponsors as well. I feel bad for Matera, Petti and Socino because I have no doubt they feel absolutely ashamed for the horrible things they said 8 or 9 years ago. But at this point, I think they should support the decision made by the UAR as a way of really making a difference in all those young rugby players that have no clear moral conscience.. given their underdeveloped brains. We must recognize that this is how morally horrendous we can be when were are young, male, and play a collective sport that is based on aggression. And we should try to make some extra efforts to erradicate or control this type of thing.
Matera stood down over social media posts
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not justifying what they said in any way.
Matera stood down over social media posts
I totally agree. My only point was to highlight that I doubt he was expressing an intellectual commitment to the superiority of the white race. He was not a racist in that sense. He was a typically stupid young male driven by local forms of tribalism with the purpose of looking cool in the eyes of his close peers. I support measures to eradicate this type of attitudes from rugby and society. But I don’t think we should doubt their moral characters today if they have not given us any reason to do so (and they haven’t as far as I know). I have no doubt in my mind that these three players fell absolutely ashamed for what they wrote 8 or 9 years ago, and they should.
Matera stood down over social media posts
For mere contextual clarification (not justifying what the brain of a 18 year-old male brain thinks it’s cool). There are no black people in Argentina. The expression “negros” is used to refer to a particular type of “low class” people (that might or might not be slightly darker in color than Matera himself). When Matera wrote “SOUTH AFRICA baby! I’m finally leaving this country full of blacks ouch.” He is not referring to leaving South Africa….he is going to South Africa, and leaving Argentina. Argentina is the country full of “blacks”.
Matera stood down over social media posts
This is not a Pumas 2nd XV. Bofelli, Moyano, and Cordero in the back three. The last two coming in for Carreras and Delgui. Moyano and Cordero are both more experienced players playing the rugby in France..and they can be deadly with ball in hand. Mallia and de la Fuenteas centers coming in for Orlando and Chocobares. Mallia was the revelation in the Pumas squad during the last world cup and de la Fuente (Jaguares Captain) will have a lot to play for after those displays by Chocobares. Sanchez and Ezcurra at half backs. No much difference between Ezcurra and Bertranou. Strongest possible back row in Isa, Kremer, and Matera. Paulos and Petti in the second row, with Paulos coming from Alemano. Medrano and Vivas as props, with Montoya as hooker. You can make the case that these are the two most mobile props they have, but the scrum could be a cause of concern again. The bench does not look particularly strong. But I don’t expect Ledesma to rely on the bench to bring something extra. That was the approach he took in the first game against the AB. He didn’t even change the first row until the 70th minute..
All Blacks tinker with forward pack as Pumas make ten changes for Tri Nations clash
That’s right! The European players couldn’t even play the first warm-up game against Australia XV. I also wonder if Cheika (despite his attacking mind) had something to do with this. Did he make these Pumas fall in love with the NRL to learn the art of tackling while standing tall? How was the Pumas’ renowned appetitive for chop tackles (and the occasional grass cutter) so quickly and effectively suppressed?
A tribute to the blue wall of Argentina