This is probably the most difficult team to pin down on the world stage. For what ? Because the Pumas, shabby in the group stages last year but semi-finalists of the World Cup, capable of passing 67 to Australia in the beautiful city of Santa Fe then losing the following week on their soil, are a complex formation.
In the form of his life, will the magician Juan Cruz Mallia play a bad trick on his friends in Toulouse?
So, what face will the Pumas show in Paris this Friday evening? Juan Imhoff said this week that France, a country much older than Argentina, inspired respect in the Pumas. And who says respect, says ferocity, in the language of rugby. Or grinta, in the mouths of South Americans.
They are crazy, these Pumas…
In short, Argentina beat all the southern nations this year. She defeated the Blacks in Wellington at the end of a breathtaking match (30 to 36), thus defeating Australia and even inflicting their only defeat (29 to 28) in 2024 to the revamped Springboks, certainly, but Springboks nonetheless .
In this month of November, when most of its internationals had had to return to Europe to earn their crust in the previous weeks, we imagined that the 5th nation in the world would have difficulty winning against an Italy which has never had so many real talents behind it. Assessment? 50 points passed to the Squadra Azzura and a real message sent to the nations of the old continent to whom it would move next.
VIDEO. After a heroic comeback, Argentina close to an exploit in Ireland before facing the XV of France
Ireland? Manhandled in the first period, the Pumas then recovered through the foot of Albornoz – revelation of the year at the 10 position having placed local star Santiago Carreras on the bench – before a personal exploit from Mallia brought out the claws.
At 22 to 19, Bautista Delguy’s teammates have long cast doubt on the Aviva Stadium, until this final possession in the Irish 22 meters, which was not rewarded.
The French XV without Alldritt but with Ollivon and a flamboyant back line to tame Argentina
In short, 2 days before coming to the 93, there is therefore reason to take very seriously these Pumas who are still so peevish and who will therefore have nothing to do with the poor formation beaten 13 to 26 at home by an amputated French team of all its executives. But rather the air of the one who beat them to pride, a week later, 33 to 25. With 4 additional months of experience and collective work, all the same…
