The key to the 80 minutes, concentration and confidence, the secrets of the Los Pumas’ triumph against the Wallabies in San Juan

It was a historic victory against Australia. With a lead of 31 points, the Los Pumas played a great match on the second round of the rugby championship, winning by 48 to 17 and, with the bonus point product of having supported rival Ingoal five times, they climbed to the top of the positions. But beyond the statistics, the victory was immediately fundamental: just seven days ago and against the same rival, the Argentine national team had fallen sensationally after dominating a good part of the match.

“The 80-minute matches”was the summary of the coach Michele Sheika, who worked all week in San Juan with that slogan as a starting point to correct the negative points of the first meeting. And beyond a few “bumps” – here’s how the captain Giuliano Montoia-, for Los Pumas they were 80 minutes played from start to finish with determination in attack, solidity in the fixed formations – the weakest element of the latest presentations – and tranquility in the brand. This time it wasn’t there systematic violations as in Mendoza, where they have yielded no less than 10 penalties in the second half.

This time it was different. When Australia tried to get out of the siege of Argentina, it failed. But he couldn’t because Cheika’s men prevented him. The ocean team had shown Mendoza how to recover in a match that had presented itself negatively. This time, the Los Pumas did not allow the Wallabies to wake up as they were under constant pressure.

Everything is endorsed in the result and in the cumbersome difference. But there are nuances that cannot be measured. Because what the Los Pumas stood out the most in the land of San Juan was confidence. How is it measured? Difficult, because in all instances of the game what was above the actions was the certainty that this time they could achieve it. The bonus point is an example: they could have taken the ball after the siren, but they reached the fifth goal, which allowed them, after the irregular start of the first round, to take the lead in the Championship positions.

Thirsty for revenge, the Los Pumas managed to take the 14-0 lead in just five minutes. First of all – another sign of concentration – the team took advantage of a maneuvering error by the Australians and John Imhoff managed to sneak in to open the game with a try. In the next Thomas rooster -other of the novelties introduced by Cheika compared to the first match-, was the second to cheer, against a bewildered Australian team. Emiliano Bonelliwith his feet, he did not fail on either occasion and completed the first 14 points.

Wounded, Australia tried to be center stage and tried to improve their attack. Her first attempt was flashy: Rob Valetini -one of the best in Mendoza- has enabled its captain Giacomo slipper managed to sustain. James O’Connor did not encounter any problems with the conversion and five minutes later not even with a penalty that brought the score to 10-14. And that moment was crucial, because the team didn’t crash. He continued to trust his plans and his abilities.

Without losing the head or the collective game – the two aspects that Cheika has demanded from his arrival – the Los Pumas have managed to return to being masters of the initiative. Jeronimo De la Fuente he achieved an epic goal: he went on one side, he passed on the other, he left his opponents on the street and went straight to the Ingal, but in that movement he got injured and had to be replaced by Lucio Cinti. Boffelli completed with his feet and Argentina ran away again and kept that lead and doubled the delivery which multiplied in the second half.

But nothing, not even this victory, leaves the Argentine team the tranquility of success. The next thing on the agenda is the All Blacks, with plenty of interns in tow and plans for their current manager. The Pumas will travel to New Zealand: first on 27 August at Orangetheory Stadium, in the city of Christchurch, and then on 4 September at Waikato Stadium, in Hamilton.

Even if the best in the world are not going through their best time, they are still that very strong team that they have only been able to beat once in history, so the mistakes that Australia forgave Argentina in Mendoza will not go unnoticed in Oceania.

Special correspondent in San Juan