Pumas must win to avoid unwanted record
MENDOZA: Pointless Argentina need a Rugby Championship win over Australia in Mendoza on Saturday to avoid the 2017 campaign being the worst since they joined the competition five years ago.
After five consecutive losses to South Africa, New Zealand and away to Australia, Los Pumas are doomed to finish bottom of the table a fifth time.
But during two previous winless seasons, Argentina secured losing bonus points that have eluded them this year.
A losing bonus point is awarded in the southern hemisphere championship to a team that is beaten by less than eight points.
“It is true that we are battling to achieve victories,” conceded veteran number eight Juan Manuel Leguizamon after a 36-10 defeat by New Zealand in Buenos Aires last weekend.
“However, no other group of rugby players in the world are playing Super Rugby for six months followed almost immediately by Tests.
“It is a very difficult situation, but offers us the opportunity to face some of the best teams in the world virtually every weekend.”
Argentine national team players compete in Super Rugby as the Jaguares then morph into Pumas come the Test windows.
Former star South Africa lock Victor Matfield told the Argentine media recently that a reason why the Pumas have been struggling is that their stars get no rest.
Australia assistant coach and former star Stephen Larkham is wary of Los Pumas, believing them to be a better team that a record of one victory in eight Tests this year suggests.
“Coming up against New Zealand, South Africa and Australia — three of the top five teams in the world — on a continuous basis is really tough,” said Larkham.
Australia have retained the side that began a 27-27 draw in South Africa — the first time the same run-on team has been chosen for successive Tests since Michael Cheika became coach in 2014. AFP