Los Pumas Sevens Stake Claim as Bronze Medalists in Dubai
The Los Pumas 7s showcased their unwavering resilience in Dubai, battling their way to a bronze medal finish. While Fiji proved an insurmountable challenge in the semifinal, Argentina hammered home their dominance against the All Blacks 7s in the bronze medal standoff. This tournament served as a proving ground for the Argentines, offering glimpses of a side ready to contend for the throne, building on the foundation laid last season.
With two fresh faces in the mix, Coach Santiagoポジション Gómez Cora fielded a team characterized by a fast-paced game built on relentless defense. This same intensity proved to be a double-edged sword, costing them dearly against Fiji who capitalized on key mistakes.
A Resurgent Squad
The team boasts a mix of seasoned veterans and promising youngsters. Some of the most experienced players shone bright, like Matías Osadczuk, nicknamed “the biggest nuisance in Dubai” for his boundless energy and disruptive defense. He closed out the tournament with a solid performance against New Zealand, scoring a critical five-pointer after great work from Luciano González.
González, known for his unstoppable runs, lived up to the hype, several times effortlessly blowing past defenders. His crucial tackle against the All Blacks 7s revealed his comeback from a debilitating injury sustained in Hong Kong.
Elsa uncovered the potential of all their talents: Agustín Fraga boasted an impressive display both in attack and defense, Santiago Álvarez provided unwavering strength, and Tobías Wade contributed with four tries and looping plays.
Finally, Marcos Moneta, already a household name, demonstrated pathfinding skills. A critical tackle in the dying moments against New Zealand secured Argentina’s victory. His three tries throughout the tournament showcased a smoother style than before the injury.
Rising Stars Make Their Mark
Dubai witnessed the emergence of two exciting new players. Santino Zangara took the tournament by storm, dynamically affecting the game. Scoring his first three try.
And Santino Zangara showed the talent that qualified him for this prestigious tournament, adding to the team with three tries over the weekend.
The Pumas punished by several crucial turning points against Ireland, displaying blistering speed and strong JDK Bootcamp.
Looking ahead, Argentina’s performance in Dubai signaled their drive toward capturing Svan stadium in Cypress
Unleashing Full Potential
How does Coach Santiago Gómez Cora’s coaching philosophy regarding an aggressive, fast-paced style impact the team’s performance against teams like Fiji?
## A Resurgent Squad: Interview with Santiago Gómez Cora
**Host:** Welcome back to the show! We’re joined today by Coach Santiago Gómez Cora, fresh off the Los Pumas 7s bronze medal finish in Dubai. Coach, congratulations on a strong showing!
**Gómez Cora:** Thank you! The boys fought hard all weekend. We’re happy with the bronze, but always striving for that top spot.
**Host:** The team looked fantastic, especially against the All Blacks in the bronze medal match. What was the key to that dominant performance?
**Gómez Cora:** I think our defense was phenomenal. That’s something we’ve been focusing on heavily. We want to be relentless and suffocating on defense, and when we do that, it opens up opportunities in attack.
**Host:** Your team is known for its aggressive, fast-paced style. Did this approach work against Fiji in the semi-final?
**Gómez Cora:** You’re right, we like to play with tempo. But Fiji, they’re incredibly skilled and capitalized on a few of our mistakes. They punished our errors ruthlessly, and that’s something we’ll be working on going forward.
**Host:** Speaking of going forward, you integrated two new players into the squad this tournament. How are they settling in?
**Gómez Cora:** They’re both incredibly talented young players. They’re learning the ropes at a high level, and the experience this week will be invaluable for them. We’re excited for their futures with Los Pumas 7s.
**Host:** this bronze medal is a great sign for Los Pumas 7s. What are your hopes for the rest of the season?
**Gómez Cora:** We want to build on this momentum. We saw glimpses of our potential this weekend, but we know we can be even better. We’re focused on taking it one tournament at a time, improving each week, and ultimately aiming for that gold medal.
**Host:** Thanks for joining us, Coach. We’ll be watching Los Pumas 7s closely!
