How will Argentina fare in the Autumn Internationals?

Argentina gave a good account of themselves in the inaugural 4 Nations championship - drawing with South Africa and running Australia close on both occasions.
If they had a better kicker, they might have got a result or two going their way.

What it did prove is that a NH team (and yes i'm using that description deliberately) can compete well in a SH competition as opposed to one-off matches. (NZ being the exception given their absolute dominance of the comp.) No doubt, they'll improve for next year.

So will Argentina have learned anything from their participation as their players return north, and the Autumn Internationals hove to in November?

They have three tests lined up against Wales, France, and Ireland. They have RWC seedings on their minds, just like any other team, currently sitting in 7th spot. A win away against any of these teams will see them move up the rankings.

Since Nov Internationals in 2008:
Against Wales, they've lost their last two matches against them - both in Cardiff.
Against France, , they've won two, lost three in their last five matches - each team winning at home.
Against Ireland, they've lost the last two matches - both in Dublin.

My guess is they'll get a win under their belts, and they'll catch the Welsh cold in Cardiff.

They still have discipline issues and flake in the last 3rd making stupid handling errors...Hernandez needs to get a grip of the game. Fact is they nearly beat Aus and drew with SA. There is no reason they cannot win at least 1 of the 3 games in the auumn and i expect them to push all 3

They'll beat Ireland and the fans will blame Kidney and the ref.

Ireland will kill them.................. with or without Kidney. And then Kidney will be asked to walk the plank in Dublin bay (off a dingy, as wooden sailing ships are expensive to hire in this cash strapped lil ol world)

SecretFly wrote:Ireland will kill them.................. with or without Kidney. And then Kidney will be asked to walk the plank in Dublin bay (off a dingy, as wooden sailing ships are expensive to hire in this cash strapped lil ol world)

Ireland won't kill them, nor will Wales and i expect them to beat france. If they kick on from this summer they will be a force to be reckoned with by 2015

Ok mowgli... I'll leave the truth with you..... and we'll see if the games follow along

SecretFly wrote:Ok mowgli... I'll leave the truth with you..... and we'll see if the games follow along

someone's missed their bedtime

Argentina often arrive in the NH under-prepared. the time they have spent together during the 4Ns should stand them in very good stead.

I agree, they will be better for it, tradtionally they do well against France, they should be tougher for the other teams as well.

How long is Graham Henry helping out there, was it only for the 4N?

I expect them to beat Wales and maybe one of the others. They will have set their sights high and be looking for at lest two wins

Morgannwg wrote:They'll beat Ireland and the fans will blame Kidney and the ref.

+ 1

TJ wrote:I expect them to beat Wales and maybe one of the others. They will have set their sights high and be looking for at lest two wins

That's it? No back up?

Wales have a great history against Argentina. Argentina still rely on their pack and forward play which Wales can deal with. Wales have a superior back line and if they win set play and the breakdown they will win easily. That said Argentina are great battlers and will give any country a great game.

Biltong wrote:
How long is Graham Henry helping out there, was it only for the 4N?

Was only for TRC.
The agreement was only until the end of the tournament

Cheers.

The question is whether Argentina will present their best team or use the fall window to give a chance to young players.
If they use his A team, then have a good chance to win games, whether on the contrary, uses young players, then I do not think they can win.

Its just my view rainbow. I think the way Argentina play will give them a good chance of winning against Wales. I think they will be able to deny Wales the ball

Probably win all of them paving the way for a top 4 seeding and finals loss to the ABs in 2015. Either that or be competitive but lose all of them just like in the RC.
Or may be something in between. 3 draws?

Argentina must be expecting atleast one win and do not be too surprised if they manage two. They are well suited for NH November weather and their players feel very at home in Europe

They pushed the Boks more than England did and to be honest should have beaten them in Argentina as well as beating the Wallabies in AUS.

Well we've all experienced a 'Should' game. They're cruel but they're not counted unfortunately.

Don't stand a chance, far to unfit, they struggle with pace, they have poor skill level and discipline is shocking.
The Argies are full of passion and heart but it end there really

I would be hoping for Argentina to do well, if it wasn't for the fact that Scotland's slim hopes of making the second group of WC seeds rest on them doing badly. Having said that, Ireland doing badly would be just as good so if they beat Ireland that's fine!

I don't care how badly Ireland do as regards who we might meet in WC pools. Who cares? I don't. If we meet New Zealand, South Africa and Wales in the one pool that'll be our exciting world cup then and there confirmed.

...but just as an ego trip, I hope and pray we win all our AI games.

Its time the NH stopped looking at Argentina as a good work but a side they expect to beat. Argentina could very easily win all the Autumn internationals in which they are involved. The Rugby Championship showed that they have a much better balance between forwards and backs and look hungry for success. They did very well against both SA and Aus, easily as well as any of the NH sides would have done. There is in my mind no doubt that they are the equal of the NH and all upcoming fixtures are 50-50 matches.

The Irish and French can be as confident as they want. I will have my fingers crossed

dragonbreath wrote:Its time the NH stopped looking at Argentina as a good work but a side they expect to beat. Argentina could very easily win all the Autumn internationals in which they are involved. The Rugby Championship showed that they have a much better balance between forwards and backs and look hungry for success. They did very well against both SA and Aus, easily as well as any of the NH sides would have done. There is in my mind no doubt that they are the equal of the NH and all upcoming fixtures are 50-50 matches.

The Irish and French can be as confident as they want. I will have my fingers crossed

Can Argentina win all their AI games? Of course... but not the point.

The point was we're being led into this notion that Argentina now suddenly demand by right more respect because they are now playing in the big boy's championship down south. So, even if ones dismissal of them is flippant and ironic, you get told you are violating SH natural dominance because yay, it is written that if Argentina now plays against SH opposition they are now too probably better than their NH cousins by osmosis.

Argentina could indeed win all their games...but no, it's not a crime to suggest they might also lose them all.

Won't Wales be thinking of beating the ABs? The cheek of them to even think it might be possible

Apparently they are there for the taking Fly.

The SH and NH teams can do what they want in the AIs. There's only one team I care about and if I watch any of the other games, as a neutral I hope to see a good game of rugby. May the better team win, whoever that may be.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:Apparently they are there for the taking Fly.

The SH and NH teams can do what they want in the AIs. There's only one team I care about and if I watch any of the other games, as a neutral I hope to see a good game of rugby. May the better team win, whoever that may be.

I heard that on the grapevine, kia - thus my little hint.