Passion of the Pumas

ONE of the most striking aspects of Argentina’s victory in Santa Fe last Saturday was their attitude after the game.

While they acknowledged and celebrated with an enthusiastic local crowd on the final whistle, privately they recognise that it is only a stepping stone for the bigger challenges that lie ahead.

Should the Pumas close out the series next weekend they will take satisfaction from the knowledge that despite missing more players than Ireland, and having started the first test with five amateurs on board, their reserve strength may be better than even they were aware of.

With the certainty that some front line players will be rested for the World Cup Pool D games against Georgia and Namibia and that points difference may be vital in determining who advances from the group, this could have an impact.

It is only when you come and visit this country that you really get a feel for what a sleeping giant Argentinean rugby is. While the sport will always play second fiddle at best (basketball is also very popular) in this soccer-mad country, the game is, never the less, close to the hearts of many. This is not surprising, given the sheer volume of rugby clubs scattered all around the country.

Despite a journey of nearly 500 kilometres, the number of school buses that ventured from Buenos Aires to Santa Fe last Saturday spoke volumes about where the next generation of young players is coming from. Those kids were fanatical in their support and when presented with the opportunity of seeing the likes of Felipe Contepomi in the flesh, elicit the same response as any of the soccer megastars.

Argentina, currently closing the gap on Ireland’s fifth place IRB ranking, have achieved so much, given all domestic rugby is run on an amateur basis. As a result, there has always been an undercurrent of discontent within their international squad in relation to their payments for international appearances.

Despite an excellent European tour last autumn, when they beat England and Italy, the players are currently in dispute over the terms of their World Cup contract. It is no surprise therefore the majority of the squad ply their trade on the European circuit.

Even allowing for the recall of six French and English-based players for Saturday’s second test, there remains a scattering of high quality players still unavailable due to the presence of Toulouse, Stade Français, Biarritz and Clermont Auvergne in the French championship semi-finals.

The majority of players always make themselves available to the national side when released from their clubs and return home to heroes’ welcomes due to their exploits on foreign soil. One feels the genuine passion they exude representing their country enables them to punch above their weight as an international side.

The international game badly needs a fresh face to challenge the old, established guard. Argentina, despite having no place at the table in either the Tri-Nations or Six Nations annual tournaments, threaten to become that team.

With a stronger squad of players available to Marcelo Loffreda on Saturday, Ireland face an even bigger challenge to that presented in Santa Fe. That said, it is a major plus for Eddie O’Sullivan’s men that Contepomi is back in Dublin for his university conferring. His likely replacement, Federico Todeschini, is a formidable kicker but lacks the creative touches of the Leinster player. In a strange way it may help Argentina in that they may revert to a simpler game plan and take Ireland on up front.

The tourists, with 11 changes in order to afford an equal opportunity to the remainder of the squad to press for World Cup places, field a marginally weaker side than last Saturday. Prior to this tour, I was of the belief that Ireland’s best chance of winning a test was in Santa Fe. Yet there is considerable incentive for returning Munster forwards Frankie Sheahan, Mick O’Driscoll and Alan Quinlan along with Leo Cullen, Stephen Ferris and Shane Jennings to make an impact.

Of all the individual battles for a World Cup jersey, the most competitive remains between Quinlan and Neil Best. With Simon Easterby already on the plane, Quinlan faces the biggest challenge of his career on Saturday to better Best’s impact in the opening test.

Last Saturday the Ulster man provided the physical presence so badly required in an international of this nature. The fact that the crowd whistled every time he put in a tackle speaks volumes for his contribution. Quinlan must now make a similar nuisance of himself. He is good at that.

Due primarily to an impressive display at restarts and out of touch, Malcolm O’Kelly has probably done enough to convince O’Sullivan that he should travel to France as first choice support to Paul O’Connell and Donncha O’Callaghan. Mick O’Driscoll now has a battle to fight off Trevor Hogan and Leo Cullen for the remaining second-row slot.

If Ireland are to win on Saturday then the biggest area of improvement needs to take place behind the scrum. Despite a steady supply of possession, the midfield pairing of Andrew Trimble and Kieran Lewis failed to function and the balance didn’t look right. While this is of less concern to O’Sullivan in the short term, given the world class three quarters that are rested for this tour, the search for competent cover for Brian O’Driscoll and Gordon D’Arcy remains a worry. Barry Murphy and Gavin Duffy now form an unexpected pairing with Trimble ruled out because of injury.

Brian Carney made a significant impact on his debut and his presence as only one of four players to be re-selected next Saturday suggests that the Irish management want to fast track his development at this level.

Ireland also need to address the indiscipline which saw the concession of 13 penalties in the first test. Some of those were cleverly conceded in non-kickable positions in order to prevent the Pumas from developing their powerful maul. It is a difficult balancing act, If the hosts do manage to get rumbling up front, it could prove a very long day for Ireland.