Last weekend we got treated to one of the best games of the year, as Felipe Contemponi’s fantastic Pumas got one over the Lions in the first game in Dublin before the famous British and Irish touring team boarded the plane for Australia. Much has been made of the game and what it means for both sides, but we’ll take a moment to let it sink in in terms of its significance for Argentina. We’ll also give our thoughts and what it taught the Lions ahead of them landing on Australian shores this weekend.
Finally although there’s not a huge amount to watch this weekend ahead of the Summer Internationals kicking off next month, if you are looking to be entertained this weekend then you will not want to miss France’s gold standard club competition’s Final this weekend. The TOP 14 has a blockbuster match up between multiple domestic and European Champions Toulouse and current European Champions Bordeaux at the Stade de France on Saturday.
So, without further ado, let’s have a look at what got us talking after the weekend.
Argentina are starting to look genuinely ominous as the countdown to the next World Cup starts in earnest
Since taking over since the last World Cup in France, Pumas Coach Felipe Contempomi is starting to make Argentina look the genuine threat we all know that they can and should be. In the last year, his charges have beaten France, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Italy, and most recently, the British and Irish Lions and also ran Ireland exceptionally close last year in Dublin. They are currently ranked fifth in the World, and a strong showing in their two Test series against England this summer followed up by a solid Rugby Championship could even see them contemplate a spot in the top four.
In short, Argentina are on a roll, and the future looks very bright indeed. There is a raft of new talent coming through, as well as some of the bright and upcoming stars of a few years ago really hitting their straps on the International stage. Perhaps none more so than fly half Tomas Albornoz, who was utterly outstanding last weekend against the Lions. When you consider that back rower Juan Martin Gonzalez who is now such a standard bearer for the Pumas is only 24, you realize that Argentina look set to peak at just the right time for the World Cup. With the vast majority of the current squad barely cracking their mid twenties and most of the rest still being well shy of 30, Argentina look in excellent shape.
Admittedly, they were playing the Lions in the touring team’s first outing as a group of players not used to playing with each other, and it was obvious that they clearly struggled with their processes at times. However, by contrast, Argentina’s attacking play was truly mesmerising to watch at times and will be a nightmare for some of the world’s best defenses over the coming months. It was sharp, clinical, and had an almost effortless structure to it. Furthermore, the handling errors that all too often have been a feature of Argentina’s ambition on the pitch when they got adventurous just weren’t there.
Their scrum still needs some genuine work, but we’re sure that’s a work in progress. Nevertheless, their world-renowned physicality was there for all to see, and despite their struggles at scrum time, everywhere else, they looked strong in their set piece work. Their efforts at the breakdown and in the loose were solid, and their defense and composure to hold on in the final quarter despite a concerted Lions onslaught was inspiring.
Ahead of the incoming tour by England’s young guns and those not selected for the Lions Tour, Argentina looks well placed to give England Coach Steve Borthwick and his charges some genuine headaches. We’re actually looking forward to England’s two games in Argentina next month almost as much as we’re looking forward to the Lions series. That’s followed up by the Pumas hosting New Zealand for their two fixtures in the Rugby Championship in August. If they can repeat their heroics against the All Blacks last year and emerge with a clean sweep of England, Wales and Scotland in their European Tour this Autumn, then the sky could genuinely be the limit heading into the next World Cup for Felipe Contemponi and his Pumas.
We simply can’t wait to find out. Argentina have made huge strides since 2000, and the potential for this team is remarkable. Their passion and pride in the jersey is the stuff of legends but is now combined with composure and a set of skills that, at long last, are starting to show some genuine consistency. Tweak a few things like their traditional bread and butter strengths such as the scrum and we have a hunch that Argentina are about to become every neutral’s fan favorite at the next World Cup in Australia if they aren’t already.
There is still plenty to smile about despite the initial speed bump in Dublin
We were delighted to see Argentina get the win last weekend in Dublin, and they fully deserved it. However, the backlash in the media against the Lions did catch us by surprise somewhat. Agreed, they did stutter at times against an exceptionally good Argentinian side. However, it needs to be remembered that this was the first time this particular squad had assembled competitively. To cut your teeth against a fired up and well coached Pumas side as your first outing is a serious challenge. Argentina were the better team on the day without a doubt, but the Lions gave them a serious challenge and, by the last quarter, were clearly starting to find their feet – Australia be warned!
Admittedly, apart from the scrum, the Lions setpiece work was a shambles for the most part, and defensively, at times, they looked weak. However, as the match wore on, they started to find their shape and began to settle. For some of their younger players such as England’s much talked about Henry Pollock the theatre and drama of a Lions stage clearly took some getting used to, but we have every faith the rather impressive youngster will learn from his first outing and quickly rise to the challenge.
The Test against Argentina will have been excellent preparation, especially as a lot of those precise incisions into the Lions defence that the Pumas were able to execute at speed will be similar to the style Australia and their strike runners are likely to use, backed up by a fast moving and powerful forward pack that thrives in the loose. We’d argue that once the Lions start to gel, their back row in particular will also thive off fast ruck ball in open play and that combination of Ireland and England’s powerful second and back rowers will be a real handful for Australia.
The speed of thought and ability to create space shown by Argentinian fly half Tomas Albornoz last weekend, is not something we feel currently exists in Australia to the same degree. Consequently, the likes of Fin and Marcus Smith and the always irrepressible Finn Russell will be much more effective as a result of not having to deal with an Albornoz when it comes to asserting their roles as play makers. In their first outing last weekend it felt very much like the Lions were struggling to stamp any kind of authority on the game as Albornoz simply kept catching them off guard while exposing combinations that were struggling to gel for the Lions.
In short, by the time the first Test against the Wallabies rolls around on July 19th, expect to see a very settled Lions squad run out onto the pitch. Settled they were not last Friday in Dublin, despite the considerable talent in their ranks.
As the old saying goes, “One Test does not a summer make.” Fair play to Argentina for a spectacular and well deserved win, but we simply cannot say that what we saw last Friday by the Lions is the benchmark by which we should judge as to whether or not they will be successful in Australia. Let the real analysis start to take place over the coming weeks as right now the glass is simply only half full!
Vive le Flair Francais!
France has the longest domestic club season of any of the big rugby superpowers. Its TOP 14 is the envy of the world and a hugely successful competition. The stadiums are packed, and Saturday’s Final at the Stade de France is a sellout in front 80,000 colorful, enthusiastic, and very loud fans. What we as neutrals are in for is a genuine treat as two sides who love to run the ball from anywhere go at it. It will be fast, furious, and exceptionally good fun.
The length of the French season has meant that there is little left in the tank for the Tours down South by the National Team, most notably France’s Tour to New Zealand next month. However, if you look at the depth that France is now able to produce through its robust club structure the “B” team travelling down to New Zealand is still a side that would cause most teams genuine concern. In the meantime, though, as a result, we get treated to a Final that will catch our attention as much as any full blown International.
Bordeaux’s attack will be built around the truly extraordinary turn of pace out wide and use of space by wingers Louis Bielle-Biarey and Damian Penaud. Meanwhile, Toulouse have a forward pack that can dominate proceedings allied to their own strike runners in the shape of Blair Kinghorn and Juan Cruz Mallia and Mr. Reliability at the back and with the boot, fullback Thomas Ramos.
It’s Toulouse’s strength up front that is perhaps the edge in this fixture allied to fly half Romain Ntamack’s playmaking abilities. However, when you throw in Bordeaux’s Hooker Maxime Lamothe, who scored a remarkable three tries last weekend and seems to be able to do so just for fun, then nothing is a given.
We think it’s fair to argue that Toulouse are perhaps the more complete team of the two, but Bordeaux are definitely the more unpredictable. Furthermore, they have the ability to make said unpredictability turn into points. Some of their play may look wildly adventurous but watch the replays, and they know how to make it stick and turn it into success on the scoreboard.
Toulouse’s track record in the competition is legendary, while Bordeaux have only lifted the silverware once but they head into this fixture as Champions of Europe. It will be Bordeaux’s flair and vision up against Toulouse’s turn of pace coupled to some very mentally astute and skillful rugby. There may be a new dynasty starting to dominate French club rugby after the final whistle is blown in Paris on Saturday, but you won’t want to miss a potential changing of the guard as the fireworks are set to last for the full eighty minutes!
Toulouse vs Bordeaux – Saturday, June 28th – 3:05 PM (Eastern) – FLO Rugby (live and on demand)
So enjoy folks and get yourself ready for a month of full-blown International Test Rugby starting in July!
The Lineout 