‘Pumas at a crossroads’
THERE ARE POSITIVE SIGNS
Argentine coach Daniel Hourcade’s position will be under review next month after a poor year in results although there were signs in the November Tests they could be on the right track, according to former Pumas centre Marcelo Bosch.
Hourcade, whose team peaked when they reached the 2015 World Cup semifinals, is at the end of his two-year contract, but he and his players are keen to stay together and build for Japan 2019.
The Pumas are not short of accolades with fullback Joaquin Tuculet winning the Try-of-theYear award at last Sunday’s World Rugby gala in Monaco and winger Emiliano Boffelli being a nominee for breakthrough player of 2017.
However, Argentina lost to the top five teams in 10 tests this year, taking no points at all for the first time in the Rugby Championship, and only beat Georgia and Italy.
“This shows a reality not only of the Pumas team, but of the whole system, including the Jaguares,” Bosch, who last played at the World Cup in England, said.
The Jaguares Super Rugby franchise doubles as the Pumas squad because the Argentine union (UAR) ruled out picking European-based players. Some returned home, but the squad is young, drawing its talent from the amateur club game.
“It’s a lot to ask of a squad with not too many players. 30 to 35 professionals. It’s a struggle, they need more players, more depth,” Bosch said.
“The UAR ruled on this, thinking it would be better for the future, they didn’t want the young players to emigrate to Europe so they would have a strong Super Rugby team which was understandable, but after two years the balance is not very positive.”
Bosch did see a positive close to the tour, though, in last Saturday’s 28-19 defeat by Ireland in Dublin and Hourcade had noted that Argentina finished all three November tests, including a 21-8 loss to England and 31-15 win over Italy, strongly in contrast to last year.
“What I liked most about the tour were the last 30 minutes against Ireland,” said the 33-yearold Bosch.