[2015 RWC] Pool C: Argentina vs. Tonga (04/10/2015)

[Horacito]

Some set pieces! Good stuff.

 

[marianodan]

Poor match from ARG. Too many dumb decisions: dumb kicking, dumb scrum, lazy defending, dumb penalties in awful moments...


I'm not worried though, our players usually become complacent and idiotic when they feel superior to the opponent (this happens to argentines in many sports). vs IRL or FRA they will go up a gear in precision and concentration and this dumb stuff won't happen, if we lose to them it'll be for other reasons.

 

[hermanshire]

Tonga gave away to many penalties. Think I counted 6 penalties within 12 minutes for both sides. If Tonga had more discipline the score would have been different.

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Tonga gave away to many penalties. Think I counted 6 penalties within 12 minutes for both sides. If Tonga had more discipline the score would have been different.

 

[Cruz_del_Sur]

Not happy at all with the game tbh. I am particularly worried with the lack of focus/concentration in the first 5 minutes and the missed tackles in general.

 

[Jaguares]

Well done, Pumas

 

[WaterboySA]

Good game for the Pumas. They got put under some pressure in the scrums, showed that's not all their game is made from anymore.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Pumas looked good, gosh they really are a world class outfit now. Once upon a time smaller physical teams like Tonga could have been a banana skin but now the Pumas are a top quality outfit who can take on anyone and have a real chance of turning them over.
The level of professionalism in the Puma team was impressive, and credit to Tonga, they hung in there for as long as they could but the quality of the Argentines came through and closed the door.

 

[Horacito]

The problem right now is that our gameplan is incomplete. If you have good backs and good forwards but none of them have a clear predominance over the other one or their tasks don't complement each other, you have the problem pumas are facing now: you depend on the flashes from Cordero, Imhoff and Tuculet, and the forwards never seem to hold any protagonism.

Have you seen how many of those phases with pick and roll and rucks and forward game argentina has lost in just a year? That tells you the quality of a coach Hourcade is, to be able to convince people with such a great tradition in forward protagonism to throw it away and play like they are trying to do it.

I do think we have one of the best backrows there are in this tournament. Matera-Lobbe-Legui is superior to almost everyone there is left. Only NZ are higher than us, maybe Australia could tier us, South Africa as well, but of those three of ours two are breakdown specialists and Creevy is the best there is in this area in the whole world along with Richie. That should take us far in this tournament.

However, with this misdirection between forwards/ backs there are some moments when we get stuck and the old pick and roll game cannot asume that weigt, we need an exit for those moments.

People is talking about our running game, but I think set pieces are going to be what they remember the most about this pumas world cup, because is the answer Hourcarde has found for the structural problems of argentina¡s rugby.

 

[AzaMatt]

loved this game, Arg playing some really classy rugby. the thing i hate though is that the players have to play in argentina to be eligable for selection its great for you guys but we'd love to have some of those players in our leagues haha. Tuculet and amorosino (probably spelt that wrong) didnt really get a good chance in a poor cardiff blues side. looking forward to the next pumas game

 

[Colombia]

loved this game, Arg playing some really classy rugby. the thing i hate though is that the players have to play in argentina to be eligable for selection its great for you guys but we'd love to have some of those players in our leagues haha. Tuculet and amorosino (probably spelt that wrong) didnt really get a good chance in a poor cardiff blues side. looking forward to the next pumas game

I'm not sure it is great. I think they lose Fernandez-Lobbe amongst others. I understand he has said he retired, but would he have done so if he could continue playing for Argentina?

I think Australia showed there is a balance to be found, just look at what Matt Giteau is contributing for them at this World Cup.

 

[AzaMatt]

I'm not sure it is great. I think they lose Fernandez-Lobbe amongst others. I understand he has said he retired, but would he have done so if he could continue playing for Argentina?

I think Australia showed there is a balance to be found, just look at what Matt Giteau is contributing for them at this World Cup.

You never know they might relax the rules like austrailia did at some Point. Has it pulled many players back?

 

[Colombia]

You never know they might relax the rules like austrailia did at some Point. Has it pulled many players back?

Australia or Argentina? Australia have Will Genia, Matt Giteau & Drew Mitchell and others who are heading North like Ashley-Cooper post World Cup.

I think Argentina lose Lobbe, Ayerza, Imhoff & Bosch but they can't really afford to lose anyone given the level of competition in the RC.

 

[Xapi]

I think it's likely that the ban is a scare tactic to be able to sign players into the SR team for next year. It is likely that the ban will be lifted by RWC 2019, when the Argentina SR team is well established.

Rugby Championship schedule is still incompatible with Top 14 and Premiership schedule though, so I think it's likely the ban will stand as long as the Championship is all there is at stake, and by the time 2019 looms near, the "European" players will be at a clear disadvantage.