Pumas squad for NZ-AU tour announced.

The complete list:

Agulla, Horacio
Albacete, Patricio
Ayerza, Marcos
Bosch, Marcelo
Bustos Moyano, Martín
Bustos, Maximilano
Camacho, Gonzalo
Carballo, Rafael
Carizza, Manuel
Creevy, Agustín
Farias Cabello, Julio
Fernandez Lobbe, Juan Martín
Fernandez, Santiago
Figallo, Juan
Gonzalez Amorosino, Lucas
Guiñazu, Eusebio
Hernandez, Juan Martin
Imhoff, Juan José
Landajo, Martin
Leguizamon, Juan Manuel
Leonardi, Tomas
Orlandi, Juan Pablo
Rodriguez, Martin
Roncero, Rodrigo
Sanchez, Federico Nicolás
Senatore, Leonardo
Vallejos, Tomas
Vergallo, Nicolás

Most outstanding returns are: Hernández, Creevy and Leguizamón.

The break gives Argentina a chance to limit the effects of travel. However, I feel this break has come at the worst time for Argentina. The ABs had nothing left in the tank after Auckland and that high intensity took a lot out of them. Romano had a shoulder injury but the coaching staff were confident that he'd be back for Argentina. Conrad Smith compensates the departure of SBW.

Argentina on the other hand probably would've preferred to keep that momentum against SA going. I think they'd also prefer to play Australia first up rather than NZ in this two week section.

I think Argentina will be competitive for a good part of this match. Their hopes lie in their ability to slow AB ball down. If the ABs are able to lift the tempo, particularly in the second half, and start clicking with their offload game in terms of hanging onto the ball, that last quarter is going to be really tough for Argentina. They have yet to put in a convincing display away from home against these sides (the World Cup last year was easily Argentina's best performance in NZ) and I think Wellington is not going to be the place they do that.

The ABs will be definitely wary though of that monster pack and defence they ran into last year. Argentina will be trying to close down AB space and wrap up those ABs by going in high and stopping their offload game. Expect their players to come up into the AB line hunting in units and driving the ABs back behind the advantage line. Will be interested to see what the AB starting team will be. I think Cruden might get a start.

The main weakness of argentine team historically has been the physical training, which is why Pumas can play at a high level the first part of a game, and then fall at the end due to fatigue, so the Pumas have missed many opportunities to win. A good example of this is the game they played against NZ in the last World Cup, the Pumas did a magnificent game for 60 minutes, and from there the AB dominated the match at will.
The good news is that this year, the Pumas have a physical training that they never had before.
I honestly believe that AB will win, but it will be a great game by the Pumas too.

Whaddup Argiefan, your team made you guys proud on the weekend, do you think they will be able to repeat that when they do the return leg at home against OZ and NZ?

Biltong wrote:Whaddup Argiefan, your team made you guys proud on the weekend, do you think they will be able to repeat that when they do the return leg at home against OZ and NZ?

I think AB will win, but will not find it a walk in the park. And if the Pumas do not have many injuries after the game against the AB, I think they have a good chance to beat the AU.

I hope so for your sake Argie fan. To come away with a narrow loss and no injuries will give you a lot of confidence going into the Australian game. The Wallabies will be no doubt beaten up in the forwards and will find no relief from Argentina.

However, I don't think this game in NZ will be a close one. Happy to be proven wrong but that's two games in a row where the handling of the ABs has been poor and they've lacked patience and accuracy at key times. Something tells me this is the game where the passes stick and the ABs find their attacking rhythm. The pace of the game will step up and the ABs are hungry for a good attacking performance. If Cruden starts, there's a good chance holes will be found early.

Kia: If I understand correctly, Biltong ask me for the next games in Argentina, not for the games in NZ and AU.
I think Pumas will lose both games in the Oceania's tour, they will lose, but with dignity.

Well best of luck Argiefan, I do hope it goes well for Argentina, you sure gave us a hard match on the weekend, I am hoping you guys get a win or two somewhere.

I bet you are mate!

Yes, quite right Argie fan. You've shown up my inability to read my own language. You understood correctly and I did not!

I think it'll take a few years for Argentina to be competitive away from home. I don't want to bring up comparisons with Italy but home records you'll find are similar for SA, NZ and Australia. Away wins are not all that common. But if you fail to win at home, that's where you make life difficult for yourself. So in that respect, Argentina are well placed because they have already proven they are competitive against those three teams when playing at home. Argentina must target both those games and indeed any home game as a win. That is the nature of playing in this competition.

If you've seen Juan argentinian team sheet, you've seen them all.

Sorry, I'mhoff

Puns may never evoke a true laugh but they are evidence of a sharp mind.

So you're David Hasselhoff then AWOP? That may well explain why you're so big in Germany yet so vilified elsewhere.

That's meant to be a German accent that he puts on his writing?!

I think NZ will be saving their drubbings for SA and will have their steady controlled games against Argentina, expect the Pumas to make the first 60 tough for NZ but for the All Blacks to never look threatened. I'd be amazed if more than two tries are scored (by NZ) in each game though.

I'd be happy if Argentina can score a try away against the AB's.

yappysnap wrote:That's meant to be a German accent that he puts on his writing?!

I think NZ will be saving their drubbings for SA and will have their steady controlled games against Argentina, expect the Pumas to make the first 60 tough for NZ but for the All Blacks to never look threatened. I'd be amazed if more than two tries are scored (by NZ) in each game though.

I'd be happy if Argentina can score a try away against the AB's.

Ty Yappysnap, but remember we did it (stay in game for 60 min. and score a try) against NZ playing in NZ. We did in the last WC at Eden Park. Final result 33-10 (Half time 12-7)

Saw the argies arrive n Wellington yesterday. They looked tired, mainly because they encountered lengthy delays at airports before getting here only to have microphones shoved in their faces as soon as they got off the plane.

Theres some world cup hangove type festivities going on in Welly this week with the power and passion festival that goes all week. Gets both sides out amongst it all a bit.

yeah, I've seen the video, very tired faces.
I hope they can overcome soon the jet-lag.