Lobbe confident Pumas can make history

ARGENTINA legend and current Jaguares head coach Carlos Ignacio Fernandez Lobbe believes the Pumas can cause a big shock in Dublin today.

Andy Farrell’s Ireland are riding high after claiming the scalp of New Zealand for the third time in five years, while rugby in Argentina has been hit hard by the pandemic. The Jaguares no longer play in Super Rugby due to travel restrictions, which forced the team to turn semi-professional and play inferior South American opposition.

Argentina’s best players have all jumped ship to Europe as a result. The country’s domestic game is in trouble, but at Test level Mario Ledesma’s Pumas are a side you never discount.

“Never say never to Argentina,” said Lobbe, who won 65 caps and also played for Northampton, Sale and Bath. “When Argentina is hurt, it is more difficult to beat us.

“Ireland will be over the moon after beating the All Blacks, but Argentina had a good win in Italy after seven losses. I’ve spoken to Mario and I said ‘your team and you as head coach are here to make history as you did last year against New Zealand’.

“This weekend is going to be the first time Argentina beat Ireland in Dublin. We have beaten Ireland in World Cups, but now we’ve got to beat them over there.”

Argentina lost narrowly to France and then beat Italy after participating in this summer’s Rugby Championship with New Zealand, South Africa and Australia.

“Covid affected Argentina most of all because we were making progress in Super Rugby,” Lobbe said. “For the last five years it was great for the country, but most of our top players have now left to go to Europe.

“We were playing against the best teams in the world every week but we now need to find a new competition to play against the big teams. I’d love to compete in Europe, but it would cost a lot of money and it would be tough for the players.”