Going well: Argentina
Former Argentina and Wallabies prop Topo Rodriguez has revealed that he believes the Pumas can become Rugby Championship winners by 2014.
Santiago Phelan's outfit have claimed a draw against South Africa and also pushed New Zealand close in their opening campaign.
And that has led to growing expectation they can overcome Australia in at least one of their two games with the Wallabies in the coming weeks.
Rodriguez is buying into the confidence and is adamant that the Pumas are only a couple of years away from shocking the southern trio.
"I think realistically speaking this year, they could finish third but next year they will have this experience and I think they will really give it a good crack," Rodriguez told AAP.
"If we want to be a bit more conservative, then 2014 Argentina will win it. But I think they will be ready next year for everything.
"Put it this way, I wouldn't put my money or my house on the Wallabies as they've been quite inconsistent," said Rodriguez, who bases himself in Australia.
"Their form in the last two years, they haven't played three or four games at hard level. They play one and then drop off a bit I would say (Argentina) could leave here with a few points and finishing it off in Rosario is a good possibility."
Comments
ABlack says...
Topo was in to many scrums and rucks and mauls.../.He is a bit el loco?
Posted 10:55 15th September 2012
safehands says...
Hmmm......Argentina have played out of there skins in the last two matches and done very well and have brought a welcome breath of fresh air into the SH's annual international showpiece...but unfortunately for them the other 3 teams have been below par thus far in this RC.
Posted 01:26 14th September 2012
Houston_11 says...
I agree with all of them but fair play... maybe aiming big too quickly but if they keep this consistency then it's going to get interesting!
I'd love to see a S15 team from Argentina... and more development in their domestic competitions. To have so little infrastructure at the minute (compared to the big three SH teams) and be able to perform to this level is pretty impressive.
Posted 16:45 13th September 2012
BDAUSSIE says...
I have to agree with all of the other posters. They cant expect to win the tournament until they can start challenging these teams on a regular basis. They have the base of a solid team, but they probably lack a few world class talents in key positions. They need a Carter, or a Genia or a BDP, to be the point of difference. That is where Tri-nations series have been won in the past. Looking at their current crop of players I cant see which players would comfortably be chosen in the NZ/AUS/BOK teams, even the second string AUS team that they are facing this weekend. Yes they outplayed the Boks at home last fortnight but the Boks are at the start of a rebuilding phase and they are unlike to face a weaker Bok side in the next 4 years. Argentina rugby is going to improve immensely as a result of the RC but they should set expectations too high. A realistic goal in my view would be to finish in 3rd spot.
Posted 00:19 13th September 2012
KiwiJoe says...
Unlikely, wishful thinking unfortunately, all three SH teams aren,t double world champions by coincidence.
However having the Pumas is a great step forward for this tournament and I hope to see them improve to the level where they can take various Euroscalps on a regular basis, but even this may be in a 5 year ish time frame.
I also see them taking the odd SH scalp too but the title in 2014....
Posted 23:47 12th September 2012
Patagon says...
I like what Rodriguez says because it is a provocative thought, and commentators from the Three Nations haven¿t really considered such scenario yet. So, this makes them think: ¿No way they¿ll win it anytime soon but may win a few matches¿; that is more or less the summary from comments so far.
From here in Argentina and just watching on TV we have the impression the Pumas are a welcome ingredient to the pot so far. I would like to point out that since we got the 3rd place in the 2007 WC, the IRU has put in place various developing programs here, from schemes for infants to centres for high performance training. We are currently playing our own Super 14 Tournament, a long way from NZ/AU/SA level but getting more professional all the time. We may lack some infrastructure rubgy wise, but there is a rugby Union with tournaments since 1889, which has a huge following across the country and more grass roots than what you may think from far away. Up until last year, we were still arguing with the purist amateur mentality running some clubs. So, I think Rodriguez is teasing mainly the Aussies. It may take a few years to win the tournament. But I don¿t think there will be serious doubters that Argentina shouldn¿t be there.
Posted 23:08 12th September 2012
Alaskarugby says...
@atg77
El Mago (Hernandez)? Canale? Yes, of course, that's only two players, but in my opinion both are dangerous against any side.
Posted 22:47 12th September 2012
Kawasakifreak says...
Rodreguez' comments remind me of NH teams forever saying they're 'closing the gap' on the SH top three - only to be thumped by 20+ points in the next game.
Such hubris is one of the reasons why NH teams can't compete consistently with the best - they believe their own BS.
Poor judgement off the field mirrors poor judgement on it.
Posted 20:23 12th September 2012
atg77 says...
I really think that is being very unrealistic, as Ttey simply do not have the players. There is not a single player in their backline I would consider a major threat to any of the worlds top teams. A third place finish would be a reasonable aim within a few seasons, but winning the chamionship is decades away.
Posted 15:02 12th September 2012
Propmelsey says...
NO CHANCE!!!! If the tournament survives, i reckon they'll never win it .......
Posted 14:56 12th September 2012
olepete says...
Pushed NZ close - 21-5? Hold back lads, stifle the hubris and make your way slowly but (one hopes) surely. You know the saying about Rome....
Posted 14:35 12th September 2012
fattysock says...
While Argentina have performed above expectations this season, I'm sure he doesn't genuinely think that they will actually win the Championship any time soon.
To win the Rugby Championship, you're going to have to win a minimum of 4 or maybe even 5 matches*. Argentina have won only 1 game of 25 against NZ/Aus/SA to date... so that's a big jump just yet!
Even Australia, who consistently beat both NZ and SA, went 10 years without a Tri Nations title...
* Mathematically I guess you could win 3 if everyone wins 3 and losses 3, and then rely on bonus points/points differential. But that is somewhat unlikely!
Posted 13:52 12th September 2012
turboboy says...
The mentality, aptitude and ability don't turn up in a couple of years. You can change the attitude but there is a lot of history that goes before the current crop of AB/OZ/SA players.
It took seven years of complete faith in Clive Woodward for the RFU to get the golden egg and that was knock out footy. For Argentina it is all about their current team inspiring the late teens age players to up their game and their union to make sure the infrastructure is there at home. You can't rely on players developing overseas IMO so a Rugby Championship is going to be harder than Rodriguez thinks.
Posted 13:51 12th September 2012
jontheref says...
cannot see it in three seasons.
need to get a home based competition going, have some sort of representation in a S15 type of comp.
Have perfromed verywell, but remember, they got to 3rd at RWC 2007, and slipped badly since then.
A French team took the series this summer after a poor first game, and hammered them in the 2nd.
Should have won v SA in Argentina.
Can't see a title for many a year.
They will get better, but so will the other 3 in fits and spurts.
If one is down, the other two seem to raise their game.
Posted 12:49 12th September 2012
MacTavish says...
You have to do much, much more than just win at home to win a Tournament like this. And for the Argies to put in a season of home and away wins vs the top 3, long way off. Lets not kid ourselves. How good are / have the Boks been in recent history, and how many titles have they got? This is nonsense!
Posted 11:45 12th September 2012
sebabustos says...
I think Rodriguez is out of his mind! It will take a long, long, long time until the Pumas can win, say, 5 of the 6 matches they play. 2014 will not be the year, believe me. The Pumas have been quite competitive in their debut year (no pushovers, for sure), but they still have to win a game. They might do so in the near future, and their incluson has been great, but winning the Championship is a different thing altogether. Let's stay realistic and humble.
Posted 11:35 12th September 2012
passtheball says...
Not many were backing the Chiefs this year!
Posted 10:19 12th September 2012
Herbman says...
both the boks and wallabies are well below par this year and will surely only improve as well
Posted 09:32 12th September 2012
TheTruthHurts says...
Ambitious, I like it.... although i think it may take longer than their 3rd season to win it, but undoubtedly they will win one some time in the future....
Posted 09:26 12th September 2012
ruckingkiwi says...
One game at a time Rodriguez!
Posted 09:11 12th September 2012