Pumas sharpen claws
FORMER Argentina star Marcelo Bosch is tipping the Pumas to bare their claws in the Rugby Championship.
The Pumas open their campaign at home against the champion All Blacks this weekend.
While the Rugby Championship might be a bit of a phoney war in a Rugby World Cup year, it will be crucial selection and development.
Bosch likes what he says in the Argentine game on the back of the Jaguares undeniable improvement in Super Rugby where they made their first final, eventually losing to the Crusaders in Christchurch.
Bosch, who played the last of his 39 tests at the 2015 World Cup and hung his boots up at the end of the northern winter after a trophy-filled stint with English club Saracens, believes the Pumas can avoid another wooden spoon in the southern hemisphere test extravaganza.
“We know that the core of the team [at the Rugby World Cup] will be from the Jaguares and they had an amazing Super Rugby year getting through to the final and I like how they played their rugby as well,” Bosch told Sky Sports in the UK.
“They found ways during the tournament [Super Rugby] to win in different ways and that was something they didn’t do before perhaps.
“Nowadays they have a superb kicking game, great defence putting pressure on other teams and they still have good individuals with ball in hand.
“So I’m very excited about it plus the value of some players coming from Europe so I’m really looking forward to it.”