Almost a year ago, on November 14, 2020, the Argentinian rugby players signed the greatest feat in their history by beating, for the first time, the formidable All Blacks (15-25) at Bankwest Stadium in Sydney.
Putting an end to a series of 29 defeats since 1985. Argentina had even managed, at the same time, to hold Australia in check twice (15-15 then 16-16).
A tour de force that confirmed the good health of Argentine rugby after the Super Rugby final disputed by the Jaguares franchise (setback against the Crusaders 19-3) in July 2019.
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But since then, the Covid-19 has been there, the Buenos Aires-based franchise has been shut down, removed from Super Rugby, and the Pumas are struggling to regain their splendor.
They have even just finished the last Rugby Championship on a zero score, six defeats in as many matches.
"It is obvious that we did not evolve at our best level,
recognized the second row of the Stade Français Paris, Marcos Kremer, with the
AFP.
It is not the maximum that we can give.
In the Rugby Championship, we also play against three of the best teams in the world ...
"
Second Argentine wave
The great strength of the Gauchos was to have managed, in recent seasons, to bring their best players back to the country. A turn towards the southern hemisphere launched by Agustin Pichot, former emblematic scrum half who became an influential member of the Federation (Union Argentina de Rugby) and a time vice-president of World Rugby. Under contract with the UAR, they then devoted themselves 100% to Jaguares and Pumas between 2016 and 2020. Operating, in isolation, like a real club.
And then, everything shattered.
Deprived of competitions and income, the Federation had to cut down on the mammoth and save between 200,000 and 250,000 euros gross annually for player contracts in Super Rugby.
We had to fall back on Europe, as was the case in the early 2000s when the Pichot, Corleto, Ledesma and other Hernandez were the heyday of French clubs.
A second Argentine wave then hit the Top 14.
There is a lot of envy and ferocity on their part because they know us well.
We must remain vigilant because their last six matches do not reflect reality
Gael Fickou
Gonzalo Quesada, successful manager of the Jaguares, once again joined the Stade Français, which he had led to the title of French champion in 2015. And the best Pumas have found points of contact all over the French championship. .
Thus, of the 23 players present Saturday at the Stade de France, eleven (including eight holders) evolve in Top 14. With headliners, Facundo Isa (Toulon), Guido Petti (UBB), Tomas Lavanini (Clermont) , Tomas Cubelli (Biarritz), Jeronimo de la Fuente (Perpignan) and others Bautista Delguy (Perpignan).
Do these massive departures to Europe explain Argentina's disappointing results?
"Not an excuse"
“It shouldn't be an excuse. Last year, we started the Rugby Championship without having played together for a long time, after quarantining, and the team beat New Zealand and then drew twice with Australia,
recalls Paris opener Nicolas Sanchez , who will be replacing on Saturday.
We have to be confident in what we have done and put it into practice on the ground.
These three very important matches
(France, Italy, Ireland, Editor's note)
should help us continue to progress as a team. ”
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The Blues also remain on their guard.
"Favorite against them?" This is not the word. After six losses, they will be keen to win against us. It's always a special match against them,
warns center Gaël Fickou.
There is a lot of envy and ferocity on their part because they know us well. We must remain vigilant because their last six matches do not reflect reality. They have shown that they have been capable of exploits against New Zealand and South Africa. ”
For a long time, the Argentines were the bête noire of the XV of France, beaten at the opening and for third place in the 2007 World Cup. Between 2002 and 2010, the South Americans had won 7 times in 9 games against the Blues .
"It's difficult for Argentina since the Jaguares disappeared because of the Covid,
concedes Laurent Labit, the coach of the tricolor attack.
They need time to adapt. ”
And to insist:
“But it's always special to face club teammates. They have worked a lot in recent seasons. Fabien
(Galthié)
helped them
(he was a technical consultant between 2008 and 2010, Editor's note),
they had New Zealand coaches, Quesada… They worked physically to compete with the nations of the south.
They have been able to move forward, to bring themselves to the level of international rugby. "
We owe them the greatest respect.
It is a team which, historically, was built in the tests
Raphael Ibanez
Same fear on the side of manager Raphaël Ibanez, who experienced the dark years against the Pumas:
“We owe them the greatest respect.
It is a team which, historically, was built in the tests, a team which was not spared by the circumstances in the very heart of its rugby, with a provincial team
(the Jaguares)
dissolved, an obligation for the technical support of the Pumas to rebuild permanently ... That makes them even more formidable. "
Reunion after Japan
Especially since the Argentines have not forgotten their defeat against the Blues, in a crucial match to get out of the pools at the 2019 World Cup in Japan (23-21).
“It stuck in our heads for a long time.
So we will play this match to the
fullest
,
insists Nicolas Sanchez.
We know the level of the French, with players like Dupont, Ntamack and Jalibert.
But we'll play in a different way. ”
Marcos Kremer confirms:
“It's a bad memory because he was decisive and after that we were eliminated from the World Cup.
I hope we have a good game, removing all thoughts of previous games from our heads, focusing on another goal, something bigger. ”
Argentines, who never hesitate to use their patriotic fiber and do not try to hide their emotions, will want to strike a blow, restore their image and their honor.
“We expect a difficult test.
We know the great rugby qualities and the values of the Pumas.
We have to be demanding, uncompromising with ourselves before dealing with the adversary, ”
says Laurent Labit, necessarily suspicious before crossing paths with our Latin cousins.
