I didn’t know this game was on TV this morning, I didn’t go out of my way to watch it, I was hoping I’d be at work early to catch up on some software design I need to have finished soon! But France-Argentina, a game you would think would be worth watching… it was 3-3 when I turned on the TV and scanned the programming to see if there was anything worth watching today while I had breakfast
Then Argentina scored an amazing try…
Then Argentina scored another amazing try… it was unbelievable and left me clapping and cheering at home, for those who don’t know me… I don’t usually react in this manner when watching sport, or culture… I may politely clap at the end, if I think that is expected. I may cheer when I am in the stadium, if a performance is worthy, but not at the TV - the TV is an inanimate object… the teams do not benefit from my cheering at home - it is like swerving your body when playing video games - pointless.
But the performance of Argentina was difficult to explain… it was similar to watching the All Blacks losing to France. Only France was on the receiving end… all of the ball and possession, but none of the points.
The last 10 minutes of the first half were tense and it looked like the referee was completely out of his league, finally he took control back and sent off French captain Raphael Ibanez and Argentina’s Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, to leave both players with only 14 men just before half time. This led to a lot of players swapping around early in the second half, as France had lost their hooker.
The second half was just as exciting, the Pumas scoring another couple amazing tries… one of these tries started with Ignacio Corleto slipping through the French defense on the left, offloading to Manuel Contepomi basketball passed it to the right - after barely catching it. Two huge passes later it reached wing Federico Martin Aramburu who dived for the corner, protecting the ball to bring it in closer - but the ref ruled the try had been scored.
Every time “Los Pumas” got hold of the ball, the broke the line and ran as hard as they could to the French line… and when the French were attacking hard, Los Pumas defended hard… The French crossed the Pumas line only once and to late in the second half for it to be significant - it was almost immediately answered by a 70m run by the Pumas to score again.
The final score was an awesome 34-10, I am sure that the Pumas scored every second time they touched the ball… if the French had learned anything about the English ’style’ of football, they could have perhaps used it against the Pumas… because letting them touch the ball was not a great idea!
What was different about this game (when compared to the All Blacks game against France) is both teams were aggressive in the breakdown, both teams were pushing the limits of what the referee and touch judges would accept and could control and the result was Argentina’s attack won them the game.
Their performance left me thinking that perhaps Argentina are the best team in the world… ok they lost to South Africa, but they didn’t play against South Africa the same way they attacked France. And to be the best in the world, you have to beat the teams that you respect… not just the teams that you don’t respect.
When asked about their chances against New Zealand, a Pumas player said they could win, if the All Blacks had diarrhea, snipers shooting at them and they played badly and the Pumas had their best game ever… Perhaps Argentina thought that similar was necessary to beat South Africa? I missed that game and feel sorry for Argentina and France. France should have beaten England, England do not deserve to be in the final and I feel as if I watched the real final today. Not that I think France is better than the All Blacks, but they beat the All Blacks and I doubt I would have seen such an amazing performance by Argentina if it were the All Blacks today.
I was disappointed by the French captains comments after the game, enjoy the win because there will be new generations and France will beat the Pumas? I though Raphael Ibanez was going to do the political captains speech congratulating the Pumas for an excellent win - No? Well I have some results from the Rugby data website…
France have played Argentina 50 times now, today was the 50th rugby test match between the two nations, the first game was played in Argentina in 1949 (won 5-0 by France), since that first match Argentina have only won 10 times against France, there was a draw in 1977 - this was the first match not won by France.
The first match in France was in 1975. The first match won by Argentina was in 1985 (24-16 played in Argentina - In 1987 France went on to the final of the Rugby World Cup against the All Blacks). Counting from 1985, Argentina have met France 26 times, winning 10 of these encounters.
There was a period between 1992 and 2002 where Argentina lost 8 times in a row… but Argentina won again in 2002 (28-27 in Argentina) since that game Argentina have won 7 out of 6 encounters.
This run of victories might come to an end again soon, this is the nature of international competition… it may be time for France to come back, sure. But looking at the track record, there are no grounds for Raphael’s comments, I hope they do the job and encourage Argentina to continue their run against France! But I am concerned that professional rugby will do nothing to encourage Argentina to play with such heart and enthusiasm they have shown in this World cup. Lets hope it does.
It was also heart warming to see man of the match AgustÃn Pichot congratulate his team, the fans and talk to the media with his daughter wearing the “Homme du match” cap!
