Argentine Pumas, always with all their claws out

The Argentinians, our Latin cousins, our best enemies… If we are no longer in the era of Agustin Pichot, Mario Ledesma, Juan Hernandez and other Nani Corletto, who gave nightmares to Bernard Laporte (only one success French in seven matches between 2002 and 2007), the Pumas necessarily remain separate opponents for the French, accustomed to meeting them – as teammates or opponents – in the French championship. And the Argentine team arrives this Friday at the Stade de France with rising results. Serious ramp-up. She indeed achieved the best Rugby Championship in its history by bringing down New Zealand (at home), world champion South Africa and Australia. And she almost created the feat last week of bringing Ireland down in Dublin (22-19).

Argentinian coach Mauricio Reggiardo, well known here for being at the head of Provence Rugby, after having passed through Castres in particular, confirms the recent progress of his compatriots. “They played this year at a very good level, he explains to Figaro. They realized their full potential. In the recent past, when we beat big nations like England or France, it gives rise to hope. Today, it’s more than hope, it’s become part of our habits.” Argentina has lost none of its taste for combat, but it has added a new string to its bow, with its new coach Felipe Contepomi, by developing a more ambitious game.

What Felipe Contepomi brought above all was an offensive game

Mauricio Reggiardo, Argentinian entrant of Provence Rugby

The former flyhalf or international center (87 caps) knows European rugby perfectly since he played for RC Toulon, Stade Français and the Irish province of Leinster. “What he mainly brought was an offensive game, confirms Mauricio Reggiardo. Today, the Argentine team is developing a game that is much more dangerous offensively.” Contepomi, pragmatic, explained this summer that he did not intend to deny the culture of the Pumas: “The offensive game is what is easiest to see, or the most beautiful, but I think a lot about all the work that is done on defense.”

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But he expects even more from his team: “Our goal is to constantly improve what we can do. We measure ourselves against that. I think we are on the right track, we have improved, but there is a lot to do. I'm very happy with the attitude of the team, the way they live every day and the way they compete with others. This year, out of twelve matches, we played eight times against the four best teams in the world to improve. We are a developing team.»

10 of the 23 Argentinians lined up on Friday progress to the Top 14

Not bad for a team fourth in the last World Cup, which is fifth in the world rankings, just behind… France. “We must salute the work that is done by our federation and the Argentine clubs which train the players, says Reggiardo. Regularly, new players come out and are quickly ready for the very high level.” The 50-year-old technician – who counts 50 international selections as a pillar between 1996 and 2003 – specifies: “The players continue their training in Europe, in the Premiership or in the Top 14, and become even better. Players are now able to adapt. I remember that there was a period, in the years 2007-2010, when most of the players played in France. Every time we found ourselves in Argentina, we didn't have time to connect the players. This is no longer the case.” This Friday, ten of the 23 players lined up at the Stade de France are playing in the Top 14.

After the 2007 World Cup, Argentina chose to turn to the southern hemisphere. In addition to joining the Rugby Championship, she created a franchise, the Jaguares, which competed in Super Rugby. Founded in 2016 to accelerate the development of Argentine rugby, this team based in Buenos Aires quickly found a place among the New Zealand, Australian and South African franchises. She even reached the final of the 2019 edition, lost against the Crusaders (19-3). But, deprived of revenue from Super Rugby during the Covid-19 health crisis and unable to pay the salaries of its players, the Argentine Federation had pushed its best elements (Mallia, Kremer, Lavanini, etc.) to the exile so that they can continue to evolve at the highest level.

For the former international third row Leonardo Senatore (50 selections between 2008 and 2018), Argentine rugby had then “a big step backwards” with the end of the Jaguares. “It has definitely affected the way we play because the guys don't spend as much time together anymore, he regretted to the AFP. They all have different systems in their clubs, different philosophies, and that makes things more complicated when they come together. Since then, the Pumas, accustomed to facing headwinds, have found ways to adapt. Adversity has always pushed them forward.