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Anyone watching Argentina’s dreadful showing in the second test against France can be forgiven for thinking it was déjà vu. The manner in which Los Pumas followed on from winning the opening test to surrendering in the second half one week later brought the team back down to earth.
It was part of what has been a pattern for Los Pumas. The team’s share lack of consistency has been their achilles’ heel. Strong one week, flakey the next. World beaters one match, losing a more favorable match the next.
Be Confident but Stay Humble
Herelin lies a fundamental task for Daniel Hourcade. The Pumas Head Coach needs to find a way for the players to believe in themselves while remaining humble. If the players are frightened of what is in front of them they will not be in the right frame of mind to win. Santiago Phelan fell on his sword for this reason in 2013.
Confidence is essential. Managing it is just as important. Argentine bombed a home series last month due to complacency. They entered the field of Tucumán expecting to win. In doing so they played into France’s hands. The grateful Western Europeans gave them a telling lesson.
It was history repeating itself. It brought me straight back to 2014 in Edinburgh. Hot off a win over Australia in Mendoza Los Pumas next test was against an out-of-sorts Scotland. Played a mere 35 days after winning 21-17 against the Wallabies Argentina lost 41-31 against Scotland. The score was inflated by late Pumas points. In truth Scotland was much better.
Respect the Opposition
Argentina turned things around. But did so by regrouping. They treated Italy and France differently than they did Scotland. It worked to their benefit as they won the tests in Genoa and Paris, doing so with a number of very inexperienced players.
A 19 year old Guido Petti was starting against Italy. At 21 Facundo Isa was filling in for Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe while Tomás Cubelli was captain. Not selected were available European-based professionals. Hourcade determined they were not needed and proved the critics that he was on the money.
Such young names now have plenty of test match experience. Cubelli is two away from 50, remarkable considering Juan Martín Hernández has 60 caps. But for Hourcadism to work the players need to retain their focus. When they do they can cause upsets.
Agustín Creevy’s prematch speech at the Stade de France was a sight to behold. It had the now twelve-year Puma Marcos Ayerza in tears. As they entered the field they all knew their respective roles and how to pull it off collectively. Nicolás Sánchez and Hernández converted the work into points and an 18-13 win.
Pre-Hourcade Cases
The policy of Hourcadism is, in simple terms, investing in young talent and trusting them to perform over more familiar names. The reason is not only to build for the future but to also have greater players access.
Phelan tried, unsuccessfully, to fight the loss of players. He put together a scratch side in June 2012 and 2013 with mixed results. Argentina defeated both Italy and France in San Juan and Córdoba only to be taken to the cleaners in Tucumán by the French. It was similar to that which transpired last month.
In 2013 he repeated the policy but a well-prepared England was vastly superior for a Pumas lineup missing Rugby Championship players. It ultimately gave Argentina no preparation and contributed negatively to the international agenda.
In November 2012 Argentina produced a superb second half to win in Cardiff. The 26-12 victory over Wales made people take notice. But in order to gather long-lasting praise it is multiple results which garner attention.
The remaining two tests that November saw Argentina out played. Firstly France 39-22 won in Lille, doing so by bullying their way forward. Secondly, Argentina had an appalling opening half against Ireland to lose 46-24 in Dublin. Consequently the Cardiff win was not the memory of the November tour.
In 2008 the June series saw Argentina losing two out of three at home. Astonishingly the losses came in the second and third tests and were against Scotland and Italy. This happened after Los Pumas had won the opening match.
Or back in 2004 with the heroics of becoming the first test to defeat France in Marseilles. The result had a stand on its own as Ronan O’Gara dropped kicked Ireland to a 21-19 victory the following weekend in Dublin. That result was one which Marcelo Loffreda took personally.
Challenge to Hourcade
It is time to realize the common mistake that has been made. Daniel Hourcade needs to find a way of avoiding it. This is the challenge that he should take-on in the Rugby Championship and November Internationals.
The assignment is going to be extremely challenging. Home and away matches against South Africa, New Zealand and Australia followed by away matches against Wales, Scotland and England. A yet to be confirmed match against Japan will take place in between-hand.
Finding the wining formula and retaining it, that is mission 2016.
