Argentina is the only Rugby World Cup semi finalist to have never hosted a Rugby World Cup.
By 2023 Europe will have hosted four Rugby World Cup´s, Oceania three, Africa one, Asia one and the Americas zero.
1996 Heineken Cup and 1998 French Top 14 champions, Club athlétique Brive Corrèze Limousin or simply Brive, are entering the 2010-2011 season with three Argentine players in their squad. The club has been a mid-table team in recent seasons and will be looking for an improvement this year.
They will certainly need Argentine flyhalf Luciano Orquera to be playing well. Orquera is from Argentina but has played international rugby for Italy. He is likely to be used on the bench for Brive with Fabrice Estebanez to be the starting flyhalf. Orquera previously played in Italy for Rugby Mirano and Petrarca Padoue. He arrived in France in 2005 to play for Auch and left for Brive in 2006 where he has been ever since. He made his debut for Italy in 2004 vs Canada and has represented Italy 14 times, most recently vs France in the 2009 Six Nations. He is a contender to be included in the Italian squad for Rugby World Cup 2011 but needs a strong season to push his case with the national selectors.
Pumas loose-head prop, Pablo Henn will be playing his third season for Brive having previously played for Stade Français in 2005-2006 and Montauban from 2006-2008. Henn is an outside chance at being selected for Rugby World Cup 2011. He is up against outstanding players such as Rodrigo Roncero and Marcos Ayerza. Henn made his Pumas debut in 2004 vs Chile and has played 7 tests for Argentina. His most recent appearance was in 2007 vs Italy when Argentina was missing many players. Of Henn´s 7 tests 5 have been against third-tier opposition.
Henn will be joined by fellow Pumas prop, Pablo Cardinali for the 2010-2011 season. Cardinalli is joining Brive after playing five years for another Top 14 club, CS Bourgoin. Cardinalli also previously played for AS Béziers and English club Harlequins. He has represented Argentina 5 times but, like Henn, is highly unlikely to be selected again. His last test appearance was in 2007 vs Ireland in Santa Fé. He was selected because the Top 14 season had not finished and so Argentina was without many players involved in the play-offs. Cardinalli made his Pumas debut in 2001 vs the USA and played 5 tests, with Argentina winning all 5.
The Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, previously known as the Estadio Ciudad de Mendoza, in Mendoza was one of six venues used by Argentina to host the 11th edition of the FIFA World Cup in 1978. The stadium played host to six matches and has also been a key Argentinean stadium ever since. It was selected as a venue to host the 2001 FIFA World Youth Championship in Argentina and the 2011 Copa América. The stadium was built in 1976 specifically for the 1978 FIFA World Cup.
Like large venues across Argentina, the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas has not only a history in hosting important soccer fixtures, but it has also hosted international rugby. In total, there have been eight international rugby matches hosted in Mendoza. The first was on October 4, 1997 as Argentina hosted neighbours, Chile. Argentina won the match 50-10. Four and a half years latter, test rugby returned to Mendoza as the city hosted the 2002 Sul Americano A. The tournament was held in the city from April 28 to May 4. Argentina defeated Uruguay 35-21, Paraguay 152-0 and Chile 57-13 to win the tournament. Uruguay finished in second after defeating Chile 33-16 and Paraguay 81-6.
The world governing and law-making body of rugby, the International Rugby Board (IRB) selected Mendoza to host the IRB Under 21 Rugby World Cup in 2005. The tournament was hosted by rugby clubs in Mendoza with the Championship Final and the Third Place Play-Off both being played at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas. Competing teams included Argentina, Canada, Australia, England, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Samoa, Scotland, South Africa and Wales. South Africa defeated Australia 24-10 in the Championship Final while Argentina finished in fifth place.
Los Pumas returned to Mendoza for international duty in June 2007 as they played host to Italy at the Estadio Malvinas Argentinas. Argentina had come off two test wins vs Ireland in Santa Fé and Buenos Aires. Despite being without key players such as Pichot, Hernández, Felipe Contepomi, Roncero, Ledesma, Scelzo, Albacete and Longo, Argentina continued their winning streak by defeating Italy 24-6. Five players in the run on XV who did not make the squad for France 2007. Argentina attracted a strong crowd of around 30,000 for the match.
The Estadio Malvinas Argentinas has a capacity at present of 40,268 making it a similar size to Wellington which hosted six pool matches and two Quarter-Finals at Rugby World Cup 2011. It also has a larger capacity than five venues used in France 2007 including Bordeaux, Montpellier and Toulouse who all hosted four pool matches. Thus, Mendoza as it stands, is ready to host Rugby World Cup matches. The stadium has also been selected to host Argentina vs South Africa in the ground-breaking 2012 The Rugby Championship. It was Argentina´s debut home match in the tournament and a strong and vocal crowd turned up for the occassion. Argentina made history by drawing 16-16 with South Africa. Should Argentina bid to host Rugby World Cup 2023, Mendoza could host at least four matches and maybe push for a Quarter-Final. Hosting at least one key pool match is guaranteed in a similar way to Nantes which hosted two important pool matches in France 2007 - England vs Samoa and Fiji vs Wales.
Mendoza is Argentina´s fourth largest city with a population of 1.1 million and is the capital of Mendoza province. It is also the largest city in the Andean region of Argentina. It was founded in 1561 by Pedro del Castillo and in 2008 was listed as one of the top 10 historic destinations in the World by National Geographic magazine. It is one of the most famous cities in Argentina due to the regions production of wine. Mendoza produces over 60% of all wine from Argentina and is the largest producer of wine in Latin America. Red wines including Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon and Tempranillo are Mendoza´s most important varieties. The region also has a large olive oil industry and is one of Argentina´s top skiing destinations.
Mendoza is located 1,100KM west of Argentina´s capital, Buenos Aires and 380KM east of Chile´s capital, Santiago. The main road between the two South American capital cities passes through Mendoza. Argentina´s second largest city, Córdoba, is 500KM north-east of Mendoza. Compared to venues used in France 2007 Mendoza appears isolated but it certainly is not compared to Australia 2003. For instance, the two Quarter-Final venues used for Rugby World Cup 2003, Melbourne and Brisbane, are over 1500KM apart with a flight time of 3.5 hours. In comparison, by plane the trip from Buenos Aires to Mendoza is less than 2 hours by plane. An additional example is the distance from the two largest venues at Rugby World Cup 2011 - Auckland and Christchurch. They are over 900KM apart and it takes over 15 hours to travel from one to the other by car because of the ferry crossing between the North and South Islands. Mendoza is, therefore, located comparatively close and will mean travelling by land or air is in no way a large or complicated task.
Pumas second-rower, Mariano Galarza, has signed to play this season for Leinster in the Magners League and Heineken Cup. He will be playing for the former team of Pumas captain, Felipe Contepomi and will be the only Pumas player playing in Ireland. Galarza was spotted early on and selected as a 22 year old to tour with Los Pumas in 2008 to France, Italy and Ireland. He, however, did not play any of the matches. He had to wait until June 12, 2010 to make his test debut as a replacement vs Scotland. He also played vs France two weeks latter, again as a replacement. Galarza is highly rated by Pumas coach, Santiago Phelan, and his move to one of the best teams in the world will help him dramatically in his quest to be selected for Rugby World Cup 2011.
Galarza will join Leinster from his Argentine club, Universidade de La Plata. He played in the 2010 Vodacom Cup in South Africa for Los Pamas XV as did fellow Pumas second-rower Santiago Guzman who will be playing in France for Stade Français this season. The pair will be in competition with Esteban Lozada (Edinburgh) to secure what is likely to be two places for New Zealand 2011 alongside Patricio Albacete (Toulouse) and Manuel Carizza (Biarritz).
French rugby giants, Stade Français Paris have a long history of elite Argentine players such as Agustin Pichot, Juan Martín Hernández and Gonzalo Quesada. For the 2010-2011 season it will be no different as there will be 6 Pumas players in the squad. Of the clubs four new signings three are Argentine players. The exception is Georgian prop, Goderdzi Shvelidze who is joining the club from relegated Montauban. The players have been bought in to bolster the team who had their worst ever season in 2009-2010 having failed to not only make the Top 14 play-offs but also to qualify for the 2010-2011 Heineken Cup. This season progress is demanded and nothing less than qualification for the play-offs will be tolerated.
Stade Français will have yet another season with Argentine loose-head prop, Rodrigo Roncero, who has been playing for the club since joining from Gloucester in 2004, leading the frontrow. He had an immediate impact on the club upon arriving and was an important player for Stade Français when they won the Top 14 in 2004 and 2007. Roncero is a highly respected player who leads by example on the field. Known for his tackling, Roncero is a player going against his age as he continues to outplay highly regarded players who are much younger than him. He will, again, command the number 1 shirt for Stade Français this season.
Roncero made his test debut for Argentina vs Japan in 1998 and has played a total of 40 tests for his country. The number is not as high as it should be because Roncero had struggled to be selected for Argentina because of the country´s tremendous front row resources. His second appearance for Argentina was not until 2002 when he was selected to play against Uruguay, Paraguay and Chile. In 2003 he played against Fiji and the USA and succeeded in being selected for Rugby World Cup 2003 where he played two matches - vs Namibia and Romania. Since Australia 2003, Roncero has been Argentina´s first choice number 1. He had a great Rugby World Cup in 2007 and is considered a key member of Argentina´s front-row as Rugby World Cup 2011 approaches.
Pumas back-rower, Juan Leguizamón will be playing his third season for the club after previously having played for London Irish from 2005-2008. The 27 year old is guaranteed to make the Pumas squad for Rugby World Cup 2011 but cannot afford to have a below par season like he did in 2009-2010 when he was diappointing for both club and country. After underperforming for Argentina vs Scotland in the two June tests this year he was replaced by Agen´s new recruit, Alejandro Campos who had a great match vs France. Leguizamón was a stand-out player for Stade Français in his debut season of 2008-2009 and should be targetting a repeat of this to make the XV vs England in Argentina´s Rugby World Cup 2011 opening fixture. He should be selected at 8 for Stade Français with Sergio Parisse (Italy) playing 6 and James Haskell (England) 7.
Leguizamón made his test debut vs Japan in 2005, scoring one try and securing his place in the team to play the British and Irish Lions in Wales. He has played a total of 34 tests and scored 6 tries for Argentina. He played in 6 of Argentina´s 7 matches at France 2007 and was a stand-out in the first match vs France. He scored two tries vs Namibia in the teams third match.
Argentine tight-head prop, Pedro Ledesma will be playing his fifth season for the club after having joined in 2006. He played tight-head prop in the championship winning side in 2007 but was not selected for Rugby World Cup 2007. He is the younger brother of Los Pumas veteran hooker, Mario Ledesma whom he played against in the 2007 Top 14 Final. The 25 year old has suffered a series of unfortunate injuries which have kept him out of rugby for long periods of time. He made his test debut for Argentina vs Italy in 2008 and his second and last appearance vs South Africa, also in 2008. He had to leave the field vs the Springboks after badly injuring his knee in the eighth minute of the match.
Given that he was included in Argentina´s first set of test matches after Rugby World Cup 2007 he is certainly a real candidate for New Zealand 2011. Firstly, he needs to get sufficient game time for his club, which he should do so now that he is fully fit.
Young Pumas second-rower, Santiago Guzman, has signed a one year contract with the club. It will be the first taste of professional rugby for the 21 year old who made his test debut for Argentina vs Scotland in June. In being selected for Los Pumas he was prefered to professional players such as Esteban Lozada (Edinburgh) and Mariano Sambucetti (Bristol) who represented Argentina in November 2009. He previously captained Argentina´s under 20 team. With this fantastic contract, Guzman is now ideally placed to push for selection for New Zealand 2011.
Argentina´s first choice outside centre, Gonzalo Tiesi has joined the club on a two year contract after playing five years of rugby in England. He previously played for London Irish from 2005-2008 and for Harlequins from 2008-2010. His move to France will reunite him with former London Irish colleague and close friend, Juan Leguizamón.
Tiesi was only 19 when he made his test debut for Argentina in 2004 vs South Africa. He was selected after performing well for his Buenos Aires team, San Isidro Club. Tiesi was Argentina´s first choice centre in 2005 and 2006 but was used as back up to Manuel Contepomi during Rugby World Cup 2007. In France 2007 he played in three of Argentina´s matches and scored one try. Since then, however, he has regained the 13 shirt and made it his own. He missed two tests in 2008 due to injury but has played in all tests since then. He arrives at Stade Français having plated 26 tests but being aged only 25. He is likely to play 13 with Mathieu Bastareaud being used more at 12 to replace the poor centres from last season - Guillaume Boussès, Geoffroy Messina and Brian Liebenberg.
24 year old Martín Rodríguez Gurruchaga will be joining Stade Français from Atletico del Rosario in Argentina. He is a highly talented back who can play fullback or inside centre. He made his mark playing sevens rugby for Argentina and was selected for Los Pumas in November 2009 in place of the injured trio of Marcelo Bosch, Felipe Contepomi and Juan Martín Hernández. Rodríguez not only played in all three tests, vs England, Wales and Scotland but he also scored all of Argentina´s points during the tour. This did two things for his career - attracted Stade Français who signed him early in 2010 for the next two seasons and it showed selectors how useful he really could be for Los Pumas.
He played 12 vs England, Wales and Scotland but his natural position is 15. Horacio Agulla was kept at fullback for these matches but with Contepomi fit again, Rodríguez was selected at fullback for Argentina in all three tests in June 2010. He has played all 6 tests since making his Pumas debut and has already secured his place in the squad for New Zealand 2011. With a season at Stade Français ahead of him, Argentina are set to have a great player become even better. It is fair to suggest that he will play 15 for the club with Scotland´s Hugo Southwell being moved to the wing or dropped to the bench.
In addition, Italy´s Argentine born captain Sergio Parisse will be playing his sixth season for the club and his first as captain.
France and Argentina met again at Rugby World Cup 2007 as the two losing semi-finalists battled it out for the Bronze medal. Both teams made changes after losing their respective semi-final matches but Argentina made the game their own, putting in their best performance of the tournament and showing the world that the Bronze Final is a crucially important fixture.
In previous Bronze Final's teams and their supporters had entered the games with negative talk. They were disappointed to have lost their Semi-Final match but were not even interested in playing. New Zealand captain, Taine Randall famously said we don´t want to play the match in an interview several days before the Bronze Final from Rugby World Cup 1999. Teams commonly, were not too interested in the match itself and this reflected badly on the players and the fans. In Paris for the 2007 Bronze Final Argentina changed this by playing the Bronze Final like it was the Rugby World Cup Final itself. Passion drove the players and their companionship for one another was a lesson to all teams already eliminated. The Bronze Final has meaning and is a very important fixture. The likes of Taine Randall should be highly embarrassed about not wanting to play in the 1999 fixture, claiming that the match was pointless. Los Pumas not only proved his comments to be of poor sportsmanship but also proved that finishing third is a tremendous honour. The pride of Los Pumas is a vivid memory from France 2007 and is an indication of what to expect should Rugby World Cup 2023 be held in Argentina.
It would be the final time that captain, Agustin Pichot would play for Argentina. Others such as Manuel Contepomi, Omar Hasan, Lucas Ostiglia and Gonzalo Longo would also retire from the national team following Rugby World Cup 2007.
It is not only Europe that is recieveing exported players from Chile. The former club of Australia´s legendary back-rower, George Smith and current club of Wallaby back-rower, Wycliff Palu is home to potentially the best Chilean forward, Cristian Westenenk. The Chilean international is playing his second season of rugby in Australia for the Manly Marlins in the country´s most important domestic rugby competition, the Shute Shield. The quality of the players in the competition is in no way insignificant. In the above photo, Westenenk can be seen playing alongside Wallaby Palu and against another Wallaby, Phil Waugh who was playing for Sydney University.
Westenenk is not just a player making up the numbers. He started for Manly in the play-offs last season and commands a place in the starting lineup. He also has his own fanbase in Manly made up of local Chileans who go to all his matches and wave the national flag. Coincidently, the colours of the flag are similar to those of Manly. Westenenk scored three tries in the first game of the season as a replacement vs Western Sydney´s Parramatta.
Cristian Westenenk is an international rugby player for Los Condores, the Chilean national team. He has played for Chile in Rugby World Cup Qualifying matches and most recently in the 2010 Sul Americano A which also included Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Having a player as good as Cristian Westenenk playing in the Shute Shield is another reminder of the potential of rugby in American countries other than Argentina. Having Argentina host Rugby World Cup 2023 would be truely amazing for rugby in the region.
Rugby World Cup 2003 Champions, England defeated 14-9 France in the first Semi-Final of France 2007 and would play the winner of the second Semi-Final which was played the following day between 1995 World Champions South Africa and Argentina. Los Pumas had reached the semi-finals after defeating Ireland and Scotland in consecutive matches. South Africa, in contrast had had a much easier route with a Quarter-Final vs Fiji the previous week and matches vs the USA and Tonga before that.
Despite having the better of play in the match, Argentina were defeated 37-13 by the Springboks. Reports suggest that Argentina played poorly and may have been tired following a tough set of matches preceeding the semi-final. Others suggested that Argentina changed their game plan for the Semi-Final. Regardless of whether or not any of this was or was not the case something else was far more important in the outcome of this match - interceptions. South Africa scored three intercept tries. In fact, not one of South Africa´s four tries were scored from a position with the try line in sight. The Springboks pounced on Argentine errors to secure their place in the final vs England.
Located on the Spanish border on France´s atlantic coast lies the tourist town of Biarritz with a population of close to 30,000 but one of the best rugby teams in Europe. Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque were runners up in the 2010-2011 Heineken Cup and also were in 2005-2006. In addition, the club is a five time French Champion - most recently in 2005-2006. It is home to a number of elite French players such as Imanol Harinordoquy, Jérôme Thion and Damien Traille and a number of other international players from England, Samoa, Tonga and the USA. It will also be home to two Pumas international players who are both highly likely to make the Pumas squad for New Zealand 2011.
Pumas second-rower, Manuel Carizza arrived at Biarritz in 2005 from Argentine club, Jockey Club de Rosario where he had played since 1989 when he was a child. Carizza was not selected for Rugby World Cup 2007 as coach Marcello Loffreda selected a very experienced forward pack, with Edinburgh´s new recruit, Esteban Lozada, being prefered as the fourth second-rower in the squad. However, since then Carizza is a much improved player and today is Argentina´s first choice number 4 in combination with Toulouse´s Patricio Albacete in the second row. Carizza made his test debut for a depleted Pumas side in 2004 vs South Africa in Buenos Aires. In that match, Argentina were without countless internationally based players due to the match taking place in December rather than November. He played five tests for Argentina in 2005 but few between then and 2008. In 2009 he was a standout player for Los Pumas vs Scotland in which he claimed the 4 shirt as his own after Lozada and Bristol´s Mariano Sambucetti had disappointing performances vs England and Wales. In total, Carizza has represented Argentina in 18 tests and is certain to play many more tests for his country.
Versatlie Pumas back, Marcelo Bosch will be playing his fifth season for Biarritz after having arrived one season after Carizza. Bosch is a flyhalf but has played at 12 and 15 for Biarritz when called upon to do so. Last season he returned from a long injury lay off to slot in at fullback for the club and was in outstanding form. Unfortunately, he suffered another injury in october 2009 which ended his season and meant he would miss all of Argentina´s tests yet again. Bosch debuted for Argentina vs Italy in 2007 at flyhalf as a 23 year old and performed very well. He was left out of Rugby World Cup 2007 because Juan Martín Hernández was moved to flyhalf from fullback and veteran Federico Todeschini was prefered as his replacement. Bosch was selected at inside centre to play against Italy in 2008 but because of injury problems has not been avaliable to play for Los Pumas ever since. He is a highly talnted player who, if fully fit, should be included in the squad for New Zealand 2011.
As winners of Pool D at Rugby World Cup 2007, Argentina altered the script by finishing ahead of hosts France which meant the Stade de France would see Argentina vs Scotland as the Quarter Final with France forced to play against New Zealand at the Millenium Stadium in Wales. In doing so, France were forced to play an away match at their own Rugby World Cup. It was the most powerful way possible to show the world that Argentina are a world power that has been ignored for too long. It had given Argentina the attention it had long been looking and prompted the IRB to assist in Argentina´s campaign to get into the Tri Nations following France 2007.
Both Argentina and Scotland had everything to play for but Los Pumas were playing for respect from the global rugby community and for all the previous players who had represented Argentina, often without recieving respect or recognition. Argentina were not taking Scotland lightly and Scotland prepared very well for the match and took on Argentina at their own game. Both teams each scored one try but in the end Argentina held on to qualify for a Semi Final show down vs South Africa at the same venues one week later. In winning the match, Argentina had made history as it was the first time a team from the Americas had qualified for a Rugby World Cup Semi-Final. Scotland were eliminated at the Quarter-Finals stage for the fourth time in succession and sixth overall. Curiously, it was the first time the two teams had ever met at a Rugby World Cup. They will meet again in Christchurch in the third of four pool matches for both teams at New Zealand 2011.
The impact that Los Pumas were having on their country was truely remarkable. The country had come to a stand-still during Argentina´s Rugby World Cup matches. The El Superclásico soccer match between the country´s two top sides - Boca Juniors and River Plate had to be changed to a latter time so that it would not be played at the same time as Argentina vs Scotland.
Rugby in Brazil is a sport that is on the rise. Every year there are new clubs competing in different states across the country as the sport continues to pick up following increased exposure on ESPN and the success of neighbours Argentina against the worlds best. During the time of the first Rugby World Cup in 1987 rugby was only practiced in 3 of Brazil´s 26 states. Today, however, it is praticised in virtually every part of the country. There are registered clubs in 21 states and he number of registered players continues to rise every year.
This has all taken place with the national team playing few international matches every year and the sport recieving no tv exposure on free to air television in the country. Today, Brazil has established itself as the fourth best in South America but has more than three times as many clubs as the third best, Chile. It is just a question of when Brazil rises to third.
The 2008 Sul Americano B tournament or, the South American Rugby Championship B in English, doubled as round one of Rugby World Cup 2011 qualification for the Americas. With Argentina being automatic qualifiers for New Zealand 2011, based on their third place finish at France 2007, the Americas were awarded two two automatic places at Rugby World Cup 2011 and the possibility for a third to qualify through repercharge.
Qualification began early in both North and South America with lower ranked countries competiting with each other to advance to face the regions heavy weights. Competing in Sul Americano 2008 were Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Peru and Venezuela who faced each other from June 19-29 2008. It was officially Round 1B of Americas Qualification with the winner advancing to face the winner of Round 1A which was the Caribbean Regional Championships involving the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad & Tobago and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines. Trinidad & Tobago defeated Guyana 40-24 in the final to advance to Round 2.
Paraguay were favourites to win Round 1B based on the history of the participants and the fact that the tournament was staged entirely in the country´s capital, Asunción.
The top two teams were guaranteed to be promoted to Division A of CONSUR - Sul Americano A but only the winner would advance to face Trinidad & Tobago. Paraguay had been in Sul Americano A previously but Brazil had been playing in Sul Americano B. The previous year, in 2007, Brazil had won the tournament held in Peru after defeating 24-15, Venezuela, 49-07 and Colombia 43-03. They were therefore, entering as a vastly superior side to all others who would face Paraguay. With more players and clubs than Paraguay, Brazil were able to knock over the hosts to win the tournament. Brazil won all of its matches. Their first three were comfortable wins and they fought out a touch match to defeat Paraguay 15-06. Brazil secured a home and away series against Trinidad & Tobago which
took place in November 2008.
June 19, 2008: Brazil 34-06 Colombia
June 23, 2008: Brazil 61-08 Venezuela
June 26, 2008: Brazil 59-0 Peru
Final, June 29:Brazil 15-06 Paraguay
The 2008 Sul Americano A was held in November with Argentina winning the tournament after defeating Chile 71-03 in Santiago and Uruguay 43-08 in Buenos Aires. Uruguay claimed second spot after defeating Chile 46-12 in Montevideo.
For the 2010-2011 Top 14 season, like always, there will be two different teams from the previous season. The winner of the 2009-2010 Pro d2 normal season, Agen and the winner of the Pro d2 final, La Rochelle will be in the Top 14 in place of Albi and Montauban. Usually the teams that rise into the Top 14 have difficult seasons and are favourites for relegation into the Pro d2 but this is not always the case. Racing Métro 92 were in the Pro d2 until two seasons ago and made last seasons play-offs of the Top 14. Toulon are a similar case in point. They made the semi-finals of last seasons Top 14 but were in the Pro d2 in 2007-2008.
In returning to the Top 14, Agen will certainly not be wanting to be one of the competitions worst teams. Agen were a very competitive team in the Top 14 until the year in which they were surprizingly relegated in 2006-2007. Agen have won the French championship a total of 8 times: in 1930, 1945, 1962, 1965, 1966, 1976, 1982, 1988 and have been runners up 6 times, the most recent being in 2002. They have a squad of very talented players including a huge list of test internations such as Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji), Béka Sheklashvili (Georgia), Arsène Nnomo (Cameroon), Lisiate Fa'aoso, Opeti Fonua, Mosese Moala and Semisi Telefoni (Tonga), Jalil Narjissi (Morocco), Kevin Swiryn (USA), Miguel Avramovic and Alejandro Campos (Argentina). Agen also have highly regarded players from other countries including Adriaan Badenhorst (South Africa), Junior Pelesasa (Australia), Valentin Courrent (France) and Jamie Robinson (Wales). In other words, Agen appear to be a side that will compete well in this seasons Top 14.
Miguel Avramovic will be joining the club after taking a season off from French rugby to complete his qualification in Argentina to become a doctor. He played two seasons for former Top 14 club, Montauban from 2007-2009 and it was a surprize to many that he was left out of the Pumas squad for Rugby World Cup 2007. Before playing for Montauban he played one season in England for Worcester. Avramovic is a centre capable of playing at both 12 and 13. He made his test debut for Argentina in 2005 vs Japan and has played 12 tests for Argentina so far. His most recent test was as a replacement vs England in Manchester in June 2009. Avramovic is going to need to perform very well to be selected for Rugby World Cup 2011. In France alone he is up against fellow Pumas centres Felipe Contepomi (Toulon), Santiago Fernandez (Montpellier), Gonzalo Tiesi (Stade Français) and Matias Viazzo (Bourgoin). Without question, he is a very good player and has a good chance of being selected. It will be exciting to watch and French fans should count themselves very lucky.
Fellow Puma, Alejandro Campos, like Avramovic, also previously played for Montauban. Campos left the club along with most players after it was automatically relegated from the Top 14 to the third division in France (Federale 1) due to financial problems. He also played for ASM Clermont in 2007-2008. Campos is a backrow forward who usually plays at 7 but can also play at 6 or 8. He made his debut for Argentina vs Scotland in 2008 and has played 9 tests so far for Los Pumas. He was selected to replace the underperforming Juan Leguizamón vs Francein June 2010 and performed outstandingly. Campos, underlined himself as a player Argentina must take to New Zealand 2011. If he is able to have a good season for Agen he will not only be in the Pumas squad for Rugby World Cup 2011, but he will be in the starting line up to face England in Argentina's first match of the tournament.
Atlantique stade rochelais or simply La Rochelle do not have the history that Agen have but certainly are not going to be an easy team to defeat. They will be written off and be contenders for the wodden spoon and thus a return to the Pro d2 but the team is in no way a weak one. La Rochelle have been a competitive team in the Pro d2 for many years but have always fallen short at the end of the season and thus missed out on promotion to the Top 14. Finally, this has changed for them as the Poitou-Charentes region of France will at long last have a team in the Top 14. In gaining promotion to the Top 14, La Rochelle defeated Lyon, France´s third largest city.
The club has two Argentine players but neither of which have represented Argentina and are highly unlikely to ever do so. Andreas Bordoy is a prop who has not been able to get a lot of game time for the club in recent seasons unlike fellow Argentine frontrower, hooker Franco Pani. Pani played 22 matches last season for La Rochelle and 21 were as the starting hooker. The previous season he played 22 matches and all 22 were as the starting hooker. Regardless of not being in contention for a place in the Pumas Rugby World Cup 2011 squad, Pani will be playing against two hookers who should be there - Ledesma (Clermont) and Vernet Basualdo (Toulouse).
La Rochelle is also home to other international players including Norman Ligairi and Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Tamato Leupolu (Samoa), and captain Robert Mohr (Germany).
Argentina vs Ireland was Pool D´s final match of Rugby World Cup 2007. It was a match like no other because of history. Argentina defeated Ireland 28-24 in Lens at Rugby World Cup 1999 to eliminate the Irish from the tournament and advance to the Quarter-Finals. In Adelaide, Australia four years latter, Ireland would have revenge as they defeated Argentina 16-15 to knock-out the South Americans.
For the 2007 clash, the Parc des Princes in Paris was the venue with French fans paying close attention to the match. Ireland had defeated Namibia and Georgian but had fallen against France. In order to qualify for the Quarter-Finals, Ireland needed a bonus point win and Argentina needed to lose without securing a bonus point. It was a tough ask. Earlier in the day, France had defeated Georgia to guarantee themselves a place in the Quarter-Finals. The result of Argentina vs Ireland would determine whether France would top the group or finish second.
In an open game of rugby, Argentina´s forwards proved to be superior and were able to control play as the game went on. Ireland scored two sensational tries but Argentina´s second try was the best of the match and one of the best of the tournament. In winning the match, Argentina won the group and set up a Quarter-Final showdown with Group C runners-up, Scotland at the Stade de France. The French finished the group as runners-up and thus travelled to Cardiff to face Group C champions, New Zealand.
The 1993 movie titled Alive is the true story about a plane crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 which involved more than 40 people in the Andes in 1972. The plane was transporting a rugby team from Montevideo, Uruguay to Chile. It was not a direct flight rather a series of flights. The last flight was from Mendoza, on the Argentine side of the Andes. The movie portrays the crash on October 13, 1972 and subsequent events in which the team were left strandard with no communication, no food and no hope.
The movie is very good but the book is even better. The film is based on the book titled Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors written by Piers Paul Read in 1974. The movie is directed by Frank Marshall and was filmed in Canada. One of the heroes of the incident, Nando Parrado assisted Marshall and the crew as a whole by working as technical advisor.
Uruguay´s contribution to World Rugby is in no way small or insignificant. Los Teros have been to two Rugby World Cup´s and in the process have won two matches. However, the most famous moment in the history or Uruguayan rugby occurred not in Rugby World Cup 2003 or in Rugby World Cup 1999 but far earlier. It was in 1972 when one of Uruguay´s top teams plane crashed in the Andes Mountains while flying to Chile. Caught in freezing conditions without any communication the players and family members of the Old Christians Club rugby team faced the impossible. The story has been well documented in books, documentaries and in film. The following is a documentary telling the fight for survival from an impossible position.
Making Argentina 2023 a reality would be a chance to honor the memories of those involved both dead and alive. It is a chance for all of South America not just Argentina.
After defeating Georgia in Lyon, Argentina travelled south to Marseille to face the second best team from Africa, Namibia. Los Pumas were expected to win with a bonus point and succeeded in doing so. Namibia, did perform well, however, as they made it hard for Argentina to score tries in the first half. They went into the match after losing to both Ireland and France but did perform very well vs Ireland in losing 32-17. Argentina had the advantage of having had ten days off since their match vs Georgia.
It was the second ever match between Argentina and Namibia. The first having occured at Rugby World Cup 2003 in Gosford, Australia in which Argentina won 67-14. Los Pumas were looking for a similar performance but in addition to targetting a bonus point win, they were also attempting to continue their impressive defence as neither France nor Georgia had been able to score a try in Argentina´s earlier two matches of the tournament. After two matches no other team competing at Rugby World Cup 2007 had not conceeded a try.
Southwestern France´s most prestigious team, Stade Toulousain or simply Toulouse, is the most successful rugby team in the history of France and of Europe. The club has won a French record of 17 French Championship titles, the most recent being in 2007-2008. In addition, Toulouse have won the Heineken Cup four times (1996, 2003, 2005 and 2010) which is more than any other team.
Toulouse will have three Pumas test players for the 2010-2011 season. All of whom are highly likely to not only make the squad for Rugby World Cup 2011 but also be in the match day 22 for all of Argentina´s matches. Playing for such a high profile team speaks wonders for the players themselves. To have three playing together for the club illustrates the abundance of talent of players being produced in Argentina.
Pumas second-rower Patricio Albacete will be playing his sixth season for Toulouse and his eighth in France overall having previously played for former Top 14 clubs Pau and Colomiers. Albacete is regarded as the best second-rower in France over the past few seasons. Since Rugby World Cup 2007 he has stood out as the dominant second-rower in the country. Albacete made his debut for Argentina vs Paraguay in 2003 and quickly earned his place as a first choice player. He scored his first and only try for Argentina vs Georgia in Lyon during Rugby World Cup 2007. In France 2007, he played in all of Argentina´s matches and is certain to do the same in New Zealand 2011. Albacete has played 38 tests for Argentina.
Pumas hooker, Alberto Vernet Basualdo will be playing his fourth season for Toulouse and needs a good one as he was dropped for the June 2010 internationals in favor of Argentine based, Agustin Creevy. The Oso (Bear) is seen as the successor to Pumas veteran and fellow French based hooker, Mario Ledesma but with Creevy performing well he needs a strong season for Toulouse to prove he merits a spot in the match day 22. Vernet Basualdo was the second choice hooker for Argentina at Rugby World Cup 2007 and was one of only two hookers selected for the tournament. He was not selected for the June 2010 internationals vs Scotland and France. Ledesma and Creevy were prefered. Clearly, he has been put in a situation of needing to perform or else face the reality of missing New Zealand 2011. He made his test debut vs South Africa in 2004 and has played 12 tests for Argentina so far.
Pumas scrum-half, Nicolas Vergallo signed for Toulouse for the 2010-2011 season from pro d2 side, US Dax where Vergallo had played the previous two seasons. His contract with Toulouse is a dream come true. It will help him immensely by being able to play alongside All Black legend, Byron Kelleher and behind a ferocious forward pack. Vergallo is in competition with Alfredo Lalanne and Agustin Figuerola for the Pumas number 9 shirt and will be looking for a great season to keep the jersey which he mae his own after a test recall in June in which he performed outstandingly vs France.
Following the retirement of Agustin Pichot in 2007, Vergallo was the prefered 9 but a poor match vs England in June 2009 saw him dropped and he had to wait 12 months for his test recall. Interestingly, like the case of hookers, Argentina only took 2 scrum-halves to France 2007. So, if the same happens again he needs to play well for Toulouse to guarantee his place in at New Zealand 2011. Playing for Toulouse will be a massive advantage for him and will be great for the club. He is replacing former French scrum-half, Jean Baptiste Ellisalde who has retired. Vergallo debuted for Argentina in 2005 vs Samoa and has made 14 test appearances, including 11 in the run on XV.
With three Argentine players playing for such a legendary team, the quality of players cannot be ignored. They are, like previous players showing the world that Argentina is one of the best rugby country´s in the world. Future players from their country should have the honor of playing a Rugby World Cup at home in Argentina in 2023.
