[2013 EOYT] Argentina

[Big Ewis]

so out of respect, I think if even a crappy side like FRANCE gets a thread, so should Argentina.

They're playing:
- England
- Wales
- Italy

It sucks so hard they haven't managed a good enough game plan. I keep repeating it on a bunch of threads, but they deserve better than what they got. Playing hard alone just doesn't get it done against top Tier 1 opposition. They just didn't look nearly as threatening and groovy as last year's edition of TRC...to makes matters even better, of course, Lobbe's out for an eternity:
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8996460,00.html

They don't seem ready from what I understand for a Tour up north against eager European 6N sides right now, and I can see them losing a number of those, even a white-wash. And then in hindsight we'd call them terrible when in fact they're not.

About the actual matches:
I can't see them beating England in Twickenham, not right now. Last year at the beginning of the 2012 EOYT perhaps, but this would honestly be a surprise.
'Daniel Hourcade' will be filling in as the interim coach, so temporarily if things don't go well I'm guessing and perhaps long term if the near future is bright.
Wales will want their revenge, and Italy might find the Pumas are very much within their grasp especially in Rome.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

+1

Can't believe there wasn't a thread up! I think Argentina might go 2-2. I expect 1 win 3 losses though. Big pitty about Lobbe but they'll have to manage; more tests against top opposition means more injuries just as much as it means more chances (I know Lobbe got injured in Top14 action- I am talking in general yerms here).

 

[Big Ewis]

+1

Can't believe there wasn't a thread up! I think Argentina might go 2-2. I expect 1 win 3 losses though. Big pitty about Lobbe but they'll have to manage; more tests against top opposition means more injuries just as much as it means more chances (I know Lobbe got injured in Top14 action- I am talking in general yerms here).

have you lost your mind, stormer !! You DARE +1 my message ?! Are you insinuating that you do agree France are a crappy side ?! You're under the oath, remember !
Anyways, I'll overlook this, as I draw from my infinite and divine mercy...

Yes, everybody's sleeping on Argentina since they got 50 put on them at home I think...it's crazy to think this tournament will go down as a huge disappointment. I'm not saying it was gay as a rainbow, but I mean everybody will only remember that they still didn't manage a win, in fact technically got a worse result than the year prior (the draw), got blown the hell out twice (including at home once, and the other being 70+pts) and that the coach got fired/resigned at the end of the tournament.
There were positives too...very good signs. And I mean this in general yerms as well.

 

[big ginger 8]

We're not playing Argentina...

 

[Feicarsinn]

^ What he said.

 

[Big Ewis]

We're not playing Argentina...

oh, you're right. PlanetRugby made a mistake there...I'll correct that in my OP.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

have you lost your mind, stormer !! You DARE +1 my message ?! Are you insinuating that you do agree France are a crappy side ?! You're under the oath, remember !
Anyways, I'll overlook this, as I draw from my infinite and divine mercy...

Yes, everybody's sleeping on Argentina since they got 50 put on them at home I think...it's crazy to think this tournament will go down as a huge disappointment. I'm not saying it was gay as a rainbow, but I mean everybody will only remember that they still didn't manage a win, in fact technically got a worse result than the year prior (the draw), got blown the hell out twice (including at home once, and the other being 70+pts) and that the coach got fired/resigned at the end of the tournament.
There were positives too...very good signs. And I mean this in general yerms as well.

No, +1 because you came up for Argentina. But don't cry for her and I agree that in many ways they improved on last year's performance bar the last game where they were just sitting ducks and approached the game totally wrong IMO.

I mean to take nothing away from Argentina's draw against us last year when I say this- in fact I want to illustrate that them making us sweat in Mendoza this year is a better result relative to where SA were at each game; last year was a dreadful year for SA in that we were very very vulnerable; new coach, how many new caps and so many players injured or unavailable otherwise. Just new combinations all over the park and a dreadful performance. Yes we played dreadfully because Argentina was applying the pressure but that SA team only had the cabability to beat Argentina by 7 max IMO and Argentina got the draw whereas I think this year's team had a lot to put on Argentina potentially but were lucky to grind out a win so I feel Argentina put in a better performance.

 

[Aspry]

You almost convinced me that we were going to play against Ireland lol

Some things I'd like to point out here:

-Not only Lobbe is out, Figallo (imo our best player) will also miss the three matches due to a serious injury. I think Camacho is still injured, so he won't play too. That's 3 of our best/key players out of the tour.

-Graham Henry quitted his job as a technical assistant. It's a pitty he won't be with us anymore, can't believe UAR let him go. I personally appreciate his gesture of working with us and all the things he did for the Pumas. Wish him luck.

-Daniel Hourcade will take charge of this team, he coached Jaguars and Pampas XV. He obviously lacks of experience but I am sure he won't be the coach next year, he probably will coach only this three matches.

Having said that, I really don't expect much about this tour to be honest. It's likely we're gonna lose against both England and Wales.. Maybe against the welsh would be a tight match considering there are a bunch of players who were part of the last years victory, so I think they should be more motivated. Wales should win without much troubles though. Italy have a big chance to beat us, I just hope we at least win that test... would be very disappointing if we don't do it.

The best that we can do in these tour is to give the young players opportunities in the field. There are a few talented players that should start in at least one game, like for example Cordero, Tuculet, Patricio Fernandez, Lavanini, Montero, Isa. I just feel we don't take advantage of our young talents like we should do.

 

[Big Ewis]

stormer:
yes, I know, SA wasn't nearly representative of its usual second best side in the world status last year. They basically should have lost both the one in Argentina, and Twickenham tbh, and barely got over a decimated Ireland squad and a decaying Scotland side. And if it wasn't for Habana (only try scorer in AUS and in both meetings against the AB), they'd have looked close to 100% flat on attack. But anyways.

Aspry:
so it's true, damage goes beyond just Lobbe for the Pumas...hhmm....it's really, really too bad. With talent alonethey could threaten to go on a whitewash of the European Tour, if only it were well coached, and obviously close to complete.I know Henry's gone. How much does that suck...
and honestly I'm really torn about the Italy match, because I really hope for our cousins across the Alps to win, but I'm an Argie fan too and it's likely they'll lose both games in the UK and I don't want them to come home empty-handed !

 

[Big Ewis]

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,16024_8998132,00.html

 

[ZeFrenchy]

So Hourcade pretty much goes on with Phelan's players. I don't really know what changes I was expecting, but it does look quite conservative. I can't believe they're still calling Farias up, and Senatore still being there just shows their lack of depth in the backrow.
Midfield is certainly a source of worry. Not only they are still calling up Fernandez and Bosch, now they called back Tiesi and "introduce" Ascárate as a new face, when he is already 26 years old.
Good to see Lavanini, Cordero and Iglesias there though, even if I don't really know them, it's a good thing that they try young players. Feel sorry for Juan Cruz Guillemain though. Surely if he had stayed in an amateur club in Argentina he'd be getting game time and would have been called up.

 

[psychic duck]

So Hourcade pretty much goes on with Phelan's players. I don't really know what changes I was expecting, but it does look quite conservative. I can't believe they're still calling Farias up, and Senatore still being there just shows their lack of depth in the backrow.
Midfield is certainly a source of worry. Not only they are still calling up Fernandez and Bosch, now they called back Tiesi and "introduce" Ascárate as a new face, when he is already 26 years old.
Good to see Lavanini, Cordero and Iglesias there though, even if I don't really know them, it's a good thing that they try young players. Feel sorry for Juan Cruz Guillemain though. Surely if he had stayed in an amateur club in Argentina he'd be getting game time and would have been called up.

Farias Cabello is retiring after these matches.

Hourcade has nothing to lose here. With some key forwards injured, reported discontent and infighting within the squad and with no time to build the squad in his image, Hourcade has been dealt a rough deal. I think this could be similar to Scott Johnson with Wales in 2006 taking over in hopeless circumstances. Surely even Italy have got to be fancying their chances at home.