Sunday, June 03, 2007

PUMAS 16 - 0 IRELAND: See you in France

Another test match between Los Pumas and Ireland. Another victory for Argentina.

Both teams will share Pool D in the upcoming Rugby World Cup (Sept. 7th - Oct. 20th) in France and the Irish went on a tour to Argentina to fine-tune in their preparations for this big event.

These two test matches, both wins for Argentina, 22-20 in Santa Fe and 16-0 in Buenos Aires, will hardly be compared to the BIG ONE that the two will play at the Parc des Princes in Paris on 30 September.

On Saturday, a crowd of 28.000 supported Los Pumas at Velez Sarsfield's José Amalfitani stadium in what was the last test-match on home soil before the Rugby World Cup.

It was the first time in 63 matches for Marcelo LOFFREDA as a manager, that a rival of rugby's top tier, is unable to score points against Los Pumas.
Manuel CONTEPOMI, the less famous brother of fly-half Felipe, scored the only try of the game, while Federico TODESCHINI (pictured) scored the other 11 points with his right foot.
Argentina and Ireland used a lot of substitutes as both managers are trying to give some of them a good "international match scenario" to see if they are worth of a place in the teams that will, in theory, fight for the second place in Pool D where France are favourites to run away with it.

Los Pumas will play against Ireland for the third consecutive World Cup. Argentina lost the last one (15-16 at Adelaide in the 2003 RWC which gave the Irish qualification to the quarterfinals -where they lost to France-).

Four years before that, in a Quarterfinals-Playoff round, Argentina defeated Ireland in an epic encounter, where Los Pumas' defense stopped the Boys in Green when they were on the verge of scoring the game-winning try. It was 28-24 in Lens and again, the winner went on to be eliminated by France in the Quarterfinals.

Here's the schedule for Argentina at the Rugby World Cup:

7 September - v FRANCE (RWC Opening Game) - Stade de France, St. Denis.

11 September - v GEORGIA - Stade Gerland, Lyon.

22 September - v NAMIBIA - Velodróme, Marseille.

30 September - v IRELAND - Parc des Princes, Paris.

We'll also be following Los Pumas here at Vamos Argentina in their way to this very difficult and exciting Rugby World Cup.

5 comments:

Linda said...

I have to cheer on my All Blacks in this tournament, but Los Pumas are really looking very good this time around. Here's hoping they go far in the World Cup.

Seba said...

Trouble is, Linda, that in my opinion the only chance Los Pumas have to escape Pool D is to come in second place.

And that will only see them play against the All Blacks in the QF.

I think we are doomed before we even start the RWC.

But let me tell you one thing...I wouldn't bet against Los Pumas when they play either France or Ireland.

Who knows...if we maybe, just maybe, are able to surprise the home team in the RWC Opening Game and then beat Ireland, we might escape from the All Blacks and live a little longer.

The way I see it, this WC is All Blacks' to lose.

I mean...everything is set for them to win it. Unless...well...unless the screw it once again...

Linda said...

The entire country in New Zealand live in fear of the ABs bottling it yet again, like we always seem to do. But I hope that will not happen this time.

I was very impressed by Los Pumas' recent results against northern hemisphere opposition - who knows, you might end up topping the group yet.

John said...

I must agree with Seba that encountering the All Blacks in the quarter-finals would be the end of the road for the the Los Pumas. All Blacks are extremely fantastic form at the moment especially Daniel CARTER.

I have plenty of faith with the Los Pumas because we played fantastically in all our Test matches last year. We lost to a slight margin against France.

The result against Ireland was great but it can be questionable. Correct me if I'm wrong but were the Irish playing without O'DRISCOLL and O'GARA?

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