The day Pumas joined world rugby’s top table

Brendan Gallagher delves into some of rugby’s most enduring images, their story and why they are still so impactful What’s happening here?

It’s October 20, 1999 at the Stade Felix Bollaert in Lens and Argentina have just beaten Ireland 28-24 in the 1999 Rugby World Cup quarter-final playoff. Sinking to his knees is inspirational scrum-half Gus Pichot while on his left, also on his knees is prop Rodrigo Roncero and, on his right, wing Gonzalo Camardo. On the ground looking up in disbelief is hooker Mario Ledesma.

What’s the story behind the picture?

Argentina's long quest to earn international recognition. The Pumas had been a very decent Test side since the 60s when Wales amongst others found it tough going over there – a strong Wales squad lost one Test and drew the other in 1968 – while even their Grand Slam heroes, at full strength, struggled to dispatch Argentina when they visited the Principality in 1976, scraping home 20-19.

In 1970, they had won a series 2-0 over a Test-strength Ireland XV, drew 13-13 with England at Twickenham in 1978 and claimed a home win over Australia the following year. In 1982, the entire starting XV for the South America Jaguars defeated South Africa, indeed the 80s were packed with major wins over France and the Australians while there was a 21-21 home draw with New Zealand.

During the amateur era they were truly competitive but as shamateurism kicked in life became difficult and there was also a disgraceful reluctance from the establishment to fully embrace the Pumas. It was just all too difficult going down there or slotting them into their Autumn schedule.

Disappointingly, although competitive, they also only claimed one win in the first three World Cups and as they departed South Africa in 1995, Argentina were definitely marking time. That generation of players had grown old together, the Pumas needed new faces and fresh legs. They were in danger of missing the boat and badly needed to make an impact at RWC1999.

What happened next?

A feisty campaign, not short on controversy, which finally alerted the world to Argentina’s growing potential. They went down narrowly to hosts Wales in the opening game but then produced an outstanding 32-16 win over a very good Samoa side at the Millennium stadium followed by an efficient 33-12 victory over Japan.

That saw Wales, Samoa and Argentina all finish on seven points in Pool D but the Pumas ended up in third place on points difference. All was not lost though. For the only time in its history, Rugby World Cup featured a bizarre quarter-final playoff round to be contested by the five pool runners up and the best third placed team, ie the Pumas.

So it was that just four days before the quarter-finals – France lay in wait for the winners in Dublin – Ireland and Argentina had to trek over to Lens in mining country in northern France. A rugby wasteland if we are completely honest. It was bloody inconvenient for all concerned but it was a massively important game nonetheless that had to be won.

The official World Cup stats lists a 48,000 capacity crowd but I was there and it was 22,000 top whack, the stadium was half empty. But it was noisy and boisterous and a gripping arm wrestle unfolded.

For much of the time it was a kicking contest between David Humphreys – enjoying a fine game in a below par Ireland side – and Gonzalo Quesada but it was effectively decided in the 73rd minute with a well-taken try by Diego Albanese although it needed a final last-minute penalty from Quesada to seal the deal.

Why is the picture iconic?

Argentina is a strongly Catholic nation and there is a devotional prayerlike quality to this image, you can almost smell the incense and hear the choir of the angels in the background. It could be a Renaissance painting by Titan or Raphael.

Here they are giving thanks to the Lord for the victory but in truth this was no ‘miracle’ win, they thoroughly deserved to take the honours in a close and incredibly tense game.. What they are giving thanks for is the moment of ‘arrival’ after a decades long journey that had reached a crescendo.

This is the moment of deliverance. Finally they had reached the World Cup quarter finals and secured a place at rugby’s top table. People would have to sit up, listen and start including them in their plans. Wouldn’t they? Actually it took a while but nothing was the same after this win. The impact at home was also huge front page news and of course the Buenos Aires Stock Exchange famously closed down for 15 minutes with brokers all huddled around TV screens to watch the action

It’s also interesting that the image revolves around Pichot, a relatively young player at the time. He is not the captain but already he is the emotional heartbeat of the side, a messiah figure. Over the next eight years leading into RWC2007 he was to become the face and voice of Argentinian rugby.

Footnote. This appears to be the start of an eight-yearly cycle for the Pumas. In 2007 they lit up the Rugby World Cup by storming to third place after beating both Ireland and France in the pool games and then in 2015 again made the semi-finals, this time dismantling Ireland in the quarter-finals. What price another strong campaign in 2023?