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Argentina’s upcoming November Internationals are to end 2017 activity. The year has been a rocky road for Los Pumas. With a 1-8 record the South Americans are in desperate need of returning to winning ways. Two wins are required to ease the pressure on Daniel Hourcade to stand down.
England
For the fourth time in twelve months Argentina go up against England. The Europeans enter as firm favorites. Eddie Jones’ men won 2-0 in Argentina in June and won with 14 players last November in London.
The upcoming match on Saturday November 11 is to be the 23rd test match between the countries. England has an overall record of 17 wins. Argentina has won on 4 occasions, including doing so in London in 2006. The teams also competed to a 19-19 draw in 1981.
The 25-18 win in 2006 over England in London was, according to some, the catalyst for what was to follow at Rugby World Cup 2007. It was followed by a home victory in Salta over England in 2009. Since then, however, England has won all matches between the sides.
Italy
Taking-on Italy in 2017 is ideal for Los Pumas. Of all the Six Nations unions it is Italy in which Argentina currently retains an advantage over. Both teams have had underwhelming years and Argentina has a very strong record of winning in Italy.
Overall there have been 21 test matches between Argentina and Italy. Los Pumas have won 15 of them and Italy 5. They competed to an 18-18 draw in 1997 for the Latin Cup.
The November 18 match in Florence is to be the 10th time in which Los Pumas have played a test match in Italy. The first two occasions were in 1978 and 1998 with Italy winning. Since then Los Pumas have won every time, the most recent of which was by 20-18 in Genoa in 2014.
Argentina enters this November with a six-match winning-streak against Italy. The Italians last two wins were both in June Internationals in Argentina. Both matches were in Córdoba with Italy winning 13-12 in 2008 and 30-29 in 2005.
Head Coach Daniel Hourcade is undefeated against Italy. The previous meetings saw Argentina winning 19-14 in Rome in 2013, 20-18 in Genoa in 2014 and 30-14 in Santa Fé in 2016.
Ireland
The fierce rivalry between Argentina and Ireland has seen the countries going head-to-head on 21 previous occasions. Ireland holds the edge with 12 wins. Los Pumas have 8 victories while the teams competed to a 3-3 draw in Argentina in 1952.
In Europe the Irish hold a perfect record over Argentina. In eight previous outings in Ireland Argentina has lost every time. The most recent match in Ireland was under Santiago Phelan with Ireland winning 46-24 in November 2012.
In June 2014 Ireland won a 2-0 series in Argentina. This was a tour in which the Europeans went up against a Pumas side without European-based players. It was before Los Jaguares meaning Argentina’s side was semi-professional. Ireland won in Resistencia and in Tucumán.
Since then Argentina and Ireland have played one additional match. It was the Rugby World Cup 2015 Quarter Final. Los Pumas won 43-20 in the high point of Hourcade’s career. It was the fourth time the teams have met in Rugby World Cups. Argentina also eliminated Ireland in 1999 and 2007. Ireland eliminated Argentina in 2003.
