Argentina still lacking on world stage
Fri, 06 Jun 2008 18:31
Although the Pumas hold third spot on the International Rugby Board (IRB) world rankings after an emphatic World Cup campaign last year, opinion is that Argentina still need larger-scale international grooming.
At a British and Irish Lions media briefing in Cape Town in preparation for their South African tour in 2009, the question was posed to Lions' appointed head coach Ian McGeechan as to whether the best of Britain would now consider Argentina on future tour schedules.
"Argentina need to be incorporated into a competitive tournament as a priority, before a British and Irish Lions tour can even be considered," said McGeechan.
At a recent IRB forum where structures for the world game were discussed, Argentina remained a bit of a gooseberry in respective international tournament series.
The Puma dilemma is that most Argentinean players ply their professional trade in Europe, while as a national team, consensus in the rugby world is that they would best fit into the Tri-Nations set-up.
Unfortunately given the players' individual club commitments, Argentina would probably not provide a competitive addition at this stage as a fourth southern hemisphere superpower.
McGeechan believes that with the amount of international test rugby currently being played, as well as the Rugby World Cup, the traditional tours of South Africa, New Zealand and Australia gives the Lions a rarity factor which is important for the game.
"Teams like Argentina need to be brought into the likes of a Tri-Nations or Six Nations competition, where individual countries can draw them into a competitive environment on a regular basis," he added.
Argentina have played the British and Irish Lions just once in Cardiff as a pre-cursor to the Lions' tour of New Zealand in 2005.
The game was a 25-25 draw, and with the feats of the 2007 RWC, one would think that the Pumas are more than capable of competing at the level a British and Irish Lions tour requires.
However, looking toward this weekend's internationals, the snag of European rugby contracts can be seen in almost every team. In fact, none more apparent than in the respective Argentine and Scottish camps, who will grind it out in Rosario on Saturday.
McGeechan's ideal was possibly revealed in his continual affirmations of South African rugby and the new Bok era.
"SA has always been one of the biggest reservoirs of talent," he said.
"South Africa won the World Cup well. They were the one team who came through the entire tournament in good shape and I am impressed with some of the young players coming through."
McGeechan respects the way the Springboks physically have the ability to attack wide, but also consistently produce a strong pack.
"Big running forwards who handle the ball well, and a backline who always have fantastic runners and handlers, is exactly what the modern game requires," McGeechan concluded.
by Nick Pawson
