Pumas Fall Short in Defeat Against South Africa: Implications for France 2023 Squad Selection

2023-08-06 06:20:00

game over the Cougars They merged into a big circular hug. There were those who had played and also those who complete the squad. The defeat against South Africa marked a pivotal moment in the preparation for France 2023: era the last game before the definition of the list of the 33 that will travel to the World Cup. More importantly, it was the last opportunity to adjust the collective functioning against a rival of hierarchy. However, the team never got on the same page, they did not know how to counteract the classic South African game: the aerial balls, the ruck dispute and, at the end, the scrum, were a nightmare for the Argentines, who could not replicate the energy they had shown a week ago at Ellis Park.

The defeat by 24-13 It does not provide positive conclusions on the individual or collective ground for the Pumas, who never infected the 40,000 spectators who packed the stadium on their return to Vélez after four years.

The final embrace of the Pumas after the defeat, aware that the performance against the usual South African substitutes was very low.Santiago Filipuzzi

It was not an easy match to play for the Pumas, regardless of the rival’s power. They had to deal with the nerves of being at risk for a place on the list, which will be defined today and announced tomorrow at noon. In addition, appearing before the local public usually generates extra pressure that can play against if it is not channeled well. The precedent of 2015, in identical circumstances (against the Springboks and in the farewell to the country before going to a World Cup), is eloquent: that time the defeat was 25-12.

South Africa presented an alternative team, which entailed an extra incentive that could not be capitalized on. They were also world-class players, with an international tour and who on similar occasions demonstrated the ability to perfectly execute the game plan. There was the key to the visiting victory.

Emiliano Boffelli disputes an area ball; the Argentines did not excite the 40,000 spectators that were in the Vélez stadium.Santiago Filipuzzi

Air balls and an excess of missed tackles in the spread game put the Pumas back against their in-goal in the first quarter of play. The good defense in that instance allowed two tries to be saved and the inefficiency of the visiting opener Mannie Libbok (he missed four shipments, most of them accessible) concealed that the action was taking place in the Argentine midfield.

It was South Africa’s indiscipline (as in Ellis Park seven days ago) that gave the Pumas their first chance: penalty, line-out and, after a failed attempt (knock-on by Lavanini with a penalty advantage), Bertrnou played fast and supported the first try. From then on, the Pumas loosened up a little more and took center stage in the game. Boffelli hit a penalty (another Springbok gift) and Argentina went to halftime 10-7 and with one more player. It seemed that control passed to the other side, but it did not last long.

In the half hour that he played, Pedro Rubiolo once again showed that he deserves a place on the plane to France: 12 tackles in that period, several of them forceful. He replaced him on 30 minutes with Guido Petti Pagadizábal, in his first appearance since he suffered a torn ligament in November. Great news for the Pumas.

On the other hand, Santiago Cordero, one of the wings that played the most in this cycle and one of the best in the Top 14 in France, in his first function in 2023 with the Pumas jersey, had failures in defense. A missed tackle cost the South African tie (10-10) a try, in the first play of the second half. Martín Bogado, in his baptism of fire with the Pumas jersey (who yesterday used an alternative that pays homage to the Grenadiers, blue with a white stripe and red details), failed to calculate in a cross kick and in five minutes, with one less, South Africa went ahead (15-10).

South Africa began to become strong in the rucks, as in the first half in Johannesburg, they submitted in contact and assumed full control of the match. The Pumas were confused: penalties, raffled balls, unforced errors. Tomás Albornoz entered 18 minutes from the end and had his game with the most minutes, although he could not take advantage of them because the Pumas almost did not touch the ball at the end. Three Libbok hits (two of them from penalties in the scrum) put the game more than one try away (24-13) with eight to play. But the visitor continued to dominate the contact point, played close to the Pumas’ in-goal and did not give any chance.

After three games in which they had been taking steps forward, the Pumas suffered a setback. It is not something alarming and there is still a long way to go to prepare for the World Cup, but they did miss a good opportunity to give themselves a major boost. What follows is a short rest, a trip to Portugal to continue adjusting the operation and a game against Spain, in Madrid, two weeks before the debut, on September 9 in Marseille against England. If a week ago it seemed that the Pumas would arrive as favorites, that estimate was no longer true. The Pumas demonstrated in the Rugby Championship that they have the tools to be protagonists in France. Yesterday, they also made it clear that if they are not focused that is going to be a very difficult task.