The Pumas have arrived

The local club scene got a break last weekend in view of the Borneo sevens tournament. With the national coach having resigned a few weeks back the hunt was on for a suitable replacement and one was found in the nick of time. How the authorities expected the team to perform is beyond me as we are in the midst of the league season and with barely any sevens practice. The need to relook at the local rugby calendar is vital so that there is adequate time to prepare, if not we will simply make up the numbers at these events.

As expected we crashed out of the main tournament on day one going down to Japan as well as to Chinese Taipei. On the topic of coaching staff, of the top four teams in RWC 2011, three of them were coached by New Zealanders. As much as there is a demand for Aussie coaches in cricket, the demand for NZ coaches is rugby is high.

The current coach of the Wallabies, a New Zealander at that is under pressure to keep his job after the Wallabies loss to the All Blacks a week before. Head coach Robbie Deans admitted that the wolves would be at his door following the Wallabies’ 22-0 defeat to the All Blacks at Eden Park. The Wallabies have won just three of 17 games against the All Blacks since Robbie Deans’ tenure began in 2008 but his side have accounted for three of the ten defeats the current world champions have suffered in that time. The Rugby Championship will recommence after last week’s holiday, and all of the four teams have added players to their squads. This is a result of certain injuries to key players combined with a rather lacklustre performance by some of the stalwarts. The week before, saw the second encounter between SA and the Pumas. Whilst a majority of the pundits, predicted ‘one way traffic’ for the Boks, the Pumas had other ideas. For those who set their alarms for 12.30a.m. to watch the match live, they were not disappointed. The Pumas had changed their game plan, were quick to the breakdown and won good turnover ball. At the tackle situation they committed two players to bring down the heavier Boks, with one of them staying on their feet, and they once again had good and quick turnover ball.

If one were to look for the Man of the Match, it could be any of the Argentinean back-row for their passionate performance and ‘can do attitude’, in their first game on home soil. A number of analysts believe that the highlight of the game was Patricio Albacete’s turnover in the 56th minute which was a moment of a genius. The Boks were bombarding the Pumas’ line and scoring was imminent, but Albacete’s defence was rock solid and the Boks were denied a score.

Referee Steve Walsh came in for some sharp criticism, in that he missed countless forward passes while the time it took for both sides to bind and get a successful scrum through to completion ruined the pace of the match.

Sir Graham Henry has encouraged Argentina to remain true to their roots during their maiden Rugby Championship appearance. He has been on board with the Pumas as a consultant, helping to bring them up to speed as they take on Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in their maiden Rugby Championship appearance.

Rummaging through the British Media after the London Olympics, I came across the following, “I can’t understand all the fuss about the Olympic 100 metres final. It’s like any other Saturday night in London: You hear a gunshot, then eight black guys start running.”