Argentina aim for Tri-Nations inclusion in 2011
Welcome back!
The Argentinean Rugby Union (UAR) have revealed plans to seek inclusion into the Rugby Tri-Nations in 2011 according to president Porfirio Carreras.
The current Tri-Nations configuration of Australia, New Zealand and South Africa is locked into a series of arrangements with broadcasters and so forth until 2010 thus the likelyhood of Argentina being included anytime sooner is unlikely.
Argentina who had a sensational World Cup in France have disappointed subsequently and will be keen to impress in the coming weeks to demonstrate what they can offer to the big Tri-Nations teams.
IRB World Rankings
South Africa have reclaimed the second spot on the IRB World Rankings after their win over Australia 53-8 in Johannesburg. Australia can reclaim second spot with a win against New Zealand in Brisbane.
No other changes occured in the Top 10 due to a lack of international rugby matches.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
IRB World Rugby Rankings
The IRB latest world ranking’s have been a major blow to the South African Springboks as they have dropped from No 1. at ths start of the year to No 3. behind the New Zealand All Blacks and Australian Wallabies.
South Africa have had a horror Rugby Tri-Nations series while Australia have improved dramatically after being fourth at the start of the Rugby Tri-Nations series.
The list of the top 10 are below;
New Zealand
Australia
South Africa
Argentina
England
Wales
France
Ireland
Scotland
Italy
Argentina test a waste of time?
Was the Argentina test against the World Cup champions South Africa a waste of time? Well that is the question being asked after a team that is mostly in pre-season training were smashed off the park by South Africa at the height of the southern hemisphere rugby calender.
The test seems to have been a waste of time judging from the result and few expert commentators expected the match to be close. It was looking quite the opposite when Argentina lead 9-0 after 30 minutes but it soon turned into a bloodbath.
The result will damage Argentina’s hopes of playing in a future four team southern hemisphere competition much like the European Six Nations. The Pumas are rebuilding but a result like this will not further their credentials at a time when a good result would have provided further impetus to their southern hemisphere push to join the South African’s, Australia and New Zealand.
South Africa 63 Argentina 9
The Springboks started off slowly against the Pumas but finally blew them off the field to celebrate Nelson Mandela’s 90th birthday. Such is the inspiration that Nelson Mandela has provided the Springboks side it could hardly not deliver a big win to celebrate his birthday.
South Africa started slowed, for the first thirty minutes the Boks were disjointed, displayed poor passing and a lack of discipline. All of these cost them dearly. Argentina soon skipped to a 9-0 lead after three penalties to Felipe Contemponi.
The poor performance of South Africa in the first thirty minutes was not all their own doing, Argentina pressured the Boks into error and looked the superior team. As Argentina began to fatigue the Boks pounced.
In the 32nd minute a poor pass that went over the head of Butch James by Ricky Januarie was grabbed by Jean de Villiers, who made a 50 metre run before unleashing Adrian Jacobs to score. This seemed to spark the Boks into action as debutant winger Jongi Nokwe scored before half-time to give the Springboks a 14-9 lead.
The half-time break was perhaps a relief for Argentina as the momentum had shifted before the break but the 10 minutes before half-time proved to be an appetizer for the Boks. The Boks came out firing after the break and went on a scoring rampage. 49 points were scored in 40 minutes, 7 tries to nil in what was a complete destruction of Argentina. Tries went to Pierre Spies, Fourie de Preez, Bismarck du Plessis while JP Pietersen and Joe Van Niekerk scored two tries each in the second half rampage.
The win was not without a cost for South Africa as Bakkies Botha and Jaque Fourie are in grave doubt for the All Blacks in Cape Town next week. Bakkies Botha injured his knee while Jacqu Fourie has a suspected cracked cheekbone. Both were taken to hospital for further scans, should either player be ruled out it would be a blow to the Boks but the depth for the Springboks is impressive. For players like Steyn and Kankowski to be unable to make the team it highlights the depth the South African’s have in their rugby teams.
South Africa 63
Tries: Adrian Jacobs, Jongi Nokwe, Pierre Spies, JP Pietersen (2), Fourie de Preez, Joe Van Niekerk (2), Bismarck du Plessis
Goals: Butch James 8 conversions
Argentina 9
Goals: Felipe Contemponi 3 penalties
South Africa destroy Argentina
South Africa finally destroyed Argentina after a lacklustre start that provided Argentina with a 9-0 lead early through three penalties to Felipe Contemponi. It took till near half-time for the Springboks to spring into gear going into the break 14-9 after two tries to Adrian Jacobs and debutant Jongi Nokwe. The Boks took a 14-9 lead into the break.
Peter de Villiers must have given the Boks a serve at the break as they came out on fire in the second half. Argentina were unable to withstand the surge as the Boks piled on the points, finally running out with a 63-9 win.
The Ruck and Maul will provide a more detailed match summary later today.
Did you see the game? Share your thoughts on the match in our comments section.
South Africa 63
Tries: Adrian Jacobs, Jongi Nokwe, Pierre Spies, JP Pietersen (2), Fourie de Preez, Joe Van Niekerk (2), Bismarck du Plessis
Goals: Butch James 8 conversions
Argentina 9
Goals: Felipe Contemponi 3 penalties
Rugby: South Africa vs Argentina Preview
Tomorrow the South African Springboks take on the Argentine Pumas in what is looking to be an interesting encounter. This match will answer many questions, not the least is the ability of Argentina to compete against the big gun southern hemisphere nations on a regular basis.
I believe the more internationals Argentina can play the better but I think this match will prove that should they be added into a future four team southern hemisphere rugby competition they would become cannor fodder, much like Italy have in the Six Nations. The upside is that this regular competion will make them stronger much as it has finally started to with Italian rugby.
South Africa have made a number of changes aimed at keeping a large squad in shape for the three make or break Tri-Nations matches ahead, one against New Zealand and two against Australia. The Springboks will be looking to fire on all cylinders and push the Pumas aside with as much venom and firepower as possible. The last thing the Boks will want is injuries to any key stars and will be looking to claim any early advantage to ensure they snuff out any threat from the Argentine’s.
Argentina are in a rebuilding stage and are looking down the barrel of what could be a heavy defeat. The retirement of legendary Puma Augustin Pichot has left a gaping hole in the team at scrum half. The recall of Felipe Contemponi will hopefully add some zeal and resilence to the Pumas but even with his experience it will be hard for the Pumas to come close to the Boks who have far too much firepower.
The Ruck and Maul Verdict: South Africa by 22.
South Africa
Conrad Jantjes, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Jongi Nokwe, Butch James, Enrico Januarie, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Luke Watson, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Andries Bekker, Joe van Niekerk, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Percy Montgomery.
Argentina
Bernardo Stortoni, José María Núñez Piossek, Federico Martín Aramburu, Miguel Avramovic, Horacio Agulla, Felipe Contepomi, Nicolás Vergallo, Juan Manuel Leguizamón, Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, Martín Durand, Patricio Albacete, Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, Pedro Ledesma, Mario Ledesma, Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: Alberto Vernet Basualdo, Marcos Ayerza, Esteban Lozada, Álvaro Galindo, Alfredo Lalanne, Benjamín Urdapilleta, Rafael Carballo.
Pumas name team for Boks clash
The Argentine coach Santiago Phelan has named the Puma team to take on the South Africans on Saturday. The side features six changes from the side that lost to Italy 13-12. Felipe Contepomi has been recalled and will also captain the side with Juan Hernandez not being selected after fracturing his hand against Italy.
The loss of Hernandez is a big one as he has shown genuine flair and enthusiam in his appearances for the Pumas. The selection of Contemponi is a life line to his Rugby career that he will be keen to grab as with the rise of Hernandez, Contemponi’s career was looking to be on the skids.
The Pumas will take on the Boks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Argentina: 15 Bernardo Stortoni, 14 José María Núñez Piossek, 13 Federico Martín Aramburu, 12 Miguel Avramovic, 11 Horacio Agulla, 10 Felipe Contepomi (c), 9 Nicolás Vergallo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamón, 7 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe, 6 Martín Durand, 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Rimas Álvarez Kairelis, 3 Pedro Ledesma, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Replacements: 16 Alberto Vernet Basualdo, 17 Marcos Ayerza, 18 Esteban Lozada, 19 Álvaro Galindo, 20 Alfredo Lalanne, 21 Benjamín Urdapilleta
22 Rafael Carballo.
Are Pumas a one hit wonder?
Argentina had a fantastic World Cup in 2007 finishing third. The dour style of play was gone and in it’s place was a brash and exciting game styled very much in the style of French provincial Rugby where many of the Puma stars play.
Much was expected of Argentina in the tests played against Italy and Scotland but the Pumas post World Cup were world’s away from the side that took the Rugby world by storm. While the team have undergone some changes since the Rugby World Cup they will be keen to show they have something serious to offer the Rugby world.
Success or at least a strong performance will be pivotal for the Pumas if they are to show they are worthy of being a part of the southern hemisphere international Rugby calendar. With Argentina pushing for a place alongside the All Blacks, Wallabies and the Springboks a performance that will push the Boks all the way is the key to their potential acceptance in any expanded Tri-Nations series.
With the top four teams now all in the southern hemisphere Argentina have the chance to show they are deserving of their fourth place in the IRB rankings. I can’t see them posing a threat to the Boks and will be surprised if they are with 20 points at the end of the game but I hope for the Pumas and for Rugby in the region they push the Boks, or even pull off a major upset.
The Ruck and Maul will preview this match later in the week.
Italy 13 Argentina 12
Italy triumphed 13-12 over Argentina in what was a costly night for Argentina. Not only did they lose a game they were expected to win but they lost star Juan Martin Hernandez after 20 minutes with a wrist injury.
Argentina led 12-3 at the break after taking a 6-0 lead early through 2 penalties to Hernandez. The game was uninspriring and was marred by referee Matt Goddard blowing 30 penalties to reduce the match to a bore fest. Italy came back strongly in the first half to bring the score back to 12-6. Argentina could have extended their lead but failed with two penalty attempts, those misses were to prove costly when Italy scored a last gasp try to replacement Leonardo Ghiraldini. It was then up to Marcato to convert fir victory and he held his nerve to provide Italy with an inspirational win against the Pumas in Argentina.
Italy 13
Tries: Leonardo Ghiraldini
Goals: Andrea Marcato 2 penalties, 1 conversion
Argentina 12
Goals: Juan Martin Hernandez 2 penalties, Marcelo Bosch 2 penalties