The Pumas clash with Australia for the Rugby Championship: defects, potential and strengths with the World Cup in France in sight

Times in rugby are different. Just give an example: the 2022 Qatar World Cup will last 28 days and the 2023 France Rugby World Cup will last 51 days. Perhaps this is why, despite the fact that there are still more than 13 months to go before the kick-off of the greatest celebration of the oval ball sport, what remains of the debut of The Cougars against England Saturday 9 September at 21:00 at the Velodrome in Marseille is not enough. And more if you take into account that there will not be many games that he will have Michele Sheika to prepare the team for the World Cup: there will be 12 with the possibility of adding a friendly match against Springbok or in the precedent of France in Europe. For this reason, the paramount importance that the Rugby Championship which is about to start in Mendoza for the national team.

The Pumas come out of a positive streak in numerical terms against Scotland and positive also from an emotional point of view, especially for the way they won the last race in Santiago del Estero. From the game it was clear from the first match that Cheika’s premise was clear: perform the fundamentals well, do not fail in three fundamental aspects such as scrum, ruck and defense and play rugby in fast attack. A modern rugby that, in recent times, curiously has been seen more in the teams of the northern hemisphere than in those of the south.

And what did we see, in a purely rugby way, in the Australian’s debut as manager of Los Pumas? It’s clear that the defensive aspect is the most urgent to correct. It is not about the system, but about a technical issue in the tackle. Cheika said this when he referred to the tackler’s position that he must go sideways and not forward. Also the ruck sometimes didn’t work. Albeit minor or major and in the Mother of Cities it was crucial to reverse the story in the last 20 minutes that led to the much celebrated victory over the Scots. The point is not to involve so many people when you are in control of the training. This is the inertia of the ruck that drives the team forward. And that same inertia is what could generate more dynamic rugby, a more complete game with full backs more involved in offensive situations. Remember: Argentina has variety in quality and quantity of players for the bottom three positions (winners and full backs) and this is a handicap that must be exploited.

A quality campus

Argentina actually has high quality rugbiers in all of its lines. There are more firm positions than others, it is clear. But the players like it Pablo Matera, Guido Petti, Emiliano Boffelli come from an extraordinary and recognized international hierarchy. With Matera, Los Pumas have recovered a natural leader, a fundamental figure in a rugby team. Julián Montoya is a true captain, but when the hooker got injured and the third row replaced him in his role in Santiago del Estero, the team was seen lining up behind him. And so the result was also reversed.

The Wallabies arrive and because of the starting line-up that Cheika has set up and for the substitutes’ bench he has formed (in rugby the relays are fundamental because it is a sport with a very high physical demand) it is necessary to imagine that the Australian’s goal is to win scrum and maul in the first 50 minutes have “cool legs” in the last half hour when opponents relax to run across the full width of the playing field. It is a great package of strikers what Los Pumas will offer with a good balance in the third row between González, Kremer and Matera, who will be eighth in a not unknown position (even in Crusaders he has played in that role in a handful of matches) even if he is more used to playing tight ends.

On the shoulders, given the injury of Nicolás Sánchez and the absence of Benjamín Urdapilleta (the two natural owners), the confidence to be one of the drivers of the team alongside Tomás Cubelli will once again be in Santiago Carreras, who this time seems to score more points in the race to become a starter in the position of France 2023. Here is a detail: On the bench will be Tomás Albornoz, who could make his debut with Los Pumas at Malvinas Argentinas. Tucuman, grandson of Pedro Merlo, history of rugby in the province, is a natural opener, with many offensive resources with his foot and who takes permanent risks.

Australia, a young and dangerous rival

And the Wallabies? Of the three southern powers, Australia is the team with the worst gift. Even if it doesn’t stop being tremendously dangerous. It comes from defeat in all three games in the November window in Europe and from the series against England at home. And it clearly ranks below world champion Springboks and the All Blacks, who aren’t having their best time.

It is a young and dangerous team, with a few players Cheika knows by heart, including winger Jordan Petaia (promoted by himself), Fijian winger Marika Koroibete, scrum-half Nic White and flanker and captain Michael Hooper. But it is also a team under construction, with a lot of rugby and emotional ups and downs. With three quarters “spicy” (always without Samu Kerevi) but with a herd that, in the previous one, is inferior to the Argentine.

Other data: eTo open in Mendoza will be the talented Quade Cooper, demoted by Cheika (Bernard Foley preferred) at the 2015 World Cup in England where the Australians were second. It remains to be seen how eager the opening half will be to prove his former manager wrong. If that happens, it will be one more cause for concern for Los Pumas …

Always argued on the basis that the guests are the favorites for the win, in any case the possibility of an Argentine victory is centered on an important factor: contrary to what happened historically in the rugby championship, when the Wallabies were the opponents of the last two and, in addition, with the bonus of having played the two games against the All Blacks of the previous one, the double confrontation against the Wallabies will be what will open the tournament. And locally. The Pumas are rested and once again the support of the public could be crucial.