Argies in the 4N

[Moses]

I keep hearing how good it'll be when the Argies join the SH domestic comp, and agree they are a strong side who need to play top opposition more regularly.

But will it really be that good for us? They play a vicious style of rugby, and I feel there are many acts of foul play. Their style of rugby makes the Saffas look adventurous, and Buenos Aires is one hell of a flight - particularly now Qantas don't fly there direct.

Am I alone in thinking this may not work so well?

 

[Tim&Bingo]

? Don't play them because they're too rough? Seriously?

 

[Larno]

I'd reckon it could be good in the long run, your forwards might learn a thing or two from theirs about hard, uncompromising play.

 

[rugbyskier]

Buenos Aires is one hell of a flight - particularly now Qantas don't fly there direct.

Yes, it's a long way from Australia but not so far from South Africa. Qantas' soon to be Oneworld partner, Malaysian Airlines, has a direct flight from Cape Town that takes 9 hours. Coming back will require a stopover in Santiago and either Qantas or LAN to Sydney or Auckland. Now we'll know how the Saffers feel with their travel schedule!

 

[DPK]

Of course it could fail; there are no guarantees in life. But they have the ability to play some cracking football, and they might flourish on the hard pitches of Australia and SA.

 

[Swat]

I think the potential benefits of the game (in terms of exposure in Argentina and more tests for WBs) outweigh any logistic issues. I think if anything we need more exposure to an abrasive style of game.

 

[light]

I think it will be great for the growth of their game, their style of rugby is perfectly suited to a four-nations competition. They won't go so well in the early years but with players such as JMH, Leguizamon and Lobbe they are likely to be a tough team. I look forward to versing them often, they have passionate, loyal fans and I think they probably deserve to verse the best regularly.

Geographical problems, understandable, but it opens a whole new rugby market and perhaps we will see some of the Argentina flair make it's way into Super Rugby.

 

[Swat]

Is there any conflicting schedule problems for Argentinean players who compete outside of S15?

 

[#1 Tah]

I think you will find it impossible to say "I dont want to support a competition that will pit the likes of Fellepie Contepomi, Berrick Barnes, Juan DeVilliers, Ma'a Nonu and Sonny Bill Williams against each other"

I just took inside centre as an example, there are many more mouth-watering clashes.

 

[light]

Juan Martin Hernandez v Quade Cooper v Dan Carter v Morne Steyn.

More you ask?

Juan Martin Hernandez Lobbe v Richie McCaw v Juan Smith v David Pocock

And even better..

Rodrigo Roncero v Wyatt Crockett v Benn Robinson v Guthro Steenkamp

And just because I can..

Horacio Agulla v Richard Kahui v Digby Ioane v Gio Aplon

 

[antipodean]

I think it will be great for the growth of their game, their style of rugby is perfectly suited to a four-nations competition. They won't go so well in the early years but with players such as JMH, Leguizamon and Lobbe they are likely to be a tough team.

I wouldn't be so sure - they can be hard to beat at home.

 

[Swat]

Juan Martin Hernandez v Quade Cooper v Dan Carter v Morne Steyn.

More you ask?

Juan Martin Hernandez Lobbe v Richie McCaw v Juan Smith v David Pocock

And even better..

Rodrigo Roncero v Wyatt Crockett v Benn Robinson v Guthro Steenkamp

And just because I can..

Horacio Agulla v Richard Kahui v Digby Ioane v Gio Aplon

I love the how GAGR forum automatically provides a link to the Ruggapedia page of the best players in each position....

 

[light]

I wouldn't be so sure - they can be hard to beat at home.

Antipodian - I am never so sure when it comes to Argentina, that is what makes them such a great team to watch. Will be interesting to see how the Blecks, Saffas and Wobblies react to a huge vocal South American crowd, will be a completely different kettle of fish to a Suncorp or SFS test.

Swat - This is not the 'One Team Positivity Thread' although I do like what you did there, pity it links me to Rod Davies when I bitch on about the worst ever test debuts.

 

[Swat]

Swat - This is not the 'One Team Positivity Thread' although I do like what you did there, pity it links me to Rod Davies when I bitch on about the worst ever test debuts.

Possitively negative...

 

[fatprop]

It will be character building for our girls and very good for them

 

[Slim 293]

I'm pretty certain that there is a higher risk of foul play when coming up against France or South Africa...








Or Richie McCaw...

 

[tigerland12]

Unfourtunatly i think the timing of their introduction is bad, given that they have a lot of players ending their careers.

ie: Roncero, Ledesma, Albacete, Contepomi

They'll still go alright, will struggle playing away from home

 

[antipodean]

Yes I expect them to have some poor results away from home for quite some time. But the benefit of playing will aid the professionalism in Argentina, which is a primary issue holding back their growth.

 

[sudrugby]

For those who follow the Vodacom Cup in SA, don't forget that it was the Pampas XV team, a representative team of Argentinians amateurs that won the last edition without losing any game.
So I believe that despite the retirement (this year or soon) of Ledesma, Contepomi, Roncero, Scelzo etc... they still got depth to have a strong squad.
The only weakness to me is their coach Santiago Phelan that I don't really rate high.

 

[the plastic paddy]

Think the tri nations should be looking to try and bring the Islanders on board as well. NH has brought Italy in at 6nations and club level, any chance Argetinian teams would be able to join S15? Reason I ask is that majority of the Argies play in Europe at the moment and can't see them forgoing the lucre to be pulverised week in week out in the Quad nations. That is the problem with the scheme, player wages in Europe are so high can't see the Argentinian players being up for it.