Argentina committed to attacking play
Thursday 25 August 2016 13:23, UK
Argentina remain committed to their attacking World Cup style as they continue to learn how to close out big games.
The Pumas return to Twickenham to take on Australia in the final round of The Rugby Championship on October 8, the first time the tournament has been staged in the Northern Hemisphere.
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They opened this year's series with a 30-23 defeat in South Africa despite holding a 23-13 lead 10 minutes from time after dazzling tries from Matias Orlando and Santiago Cordero.
But coach Daniel Hourcade believes past experiences - like the World Cup semi-final defeat to the Wallabies last year - will help his team continue their growth.
"We left the field with nothing else to give, and we lost against a great team," said Hourcade.
"This experience was a strong lesson for us, we were beaten by a great rival but I believe it was the price we paid for our inexperience. And today, that inexperience has turned into experience. So we hope it has a positive effect in our future performance.
"You learn from your defeats, maybe even more than from your victories. Going back to that semi final, I think that match made us grow a lot and it will surely be of great help to face what is to come."
Hourcade was touched by the support for the Pumas throughout the World Cup, particularly after they ran Ireland off their feet in the quarter finals, and insists the team will aim to play "to the limit of our possibilities".
They have been helped by the inclusion of an Argentine team - the Jaguares - in Super Rugby for the first time this year
"We understood that the credit was given to our game, our style, the identity we have been building for a long time now," he said.
"Beyond the results, the team won a place in the heart of the supporters. What I liked best is that many of them do not come precisely from the world of rugby and that is why we are very proud of what we have accomplished.
"The inclusion of an Argentine team in the Super Rugby competition gave our players the opportunity to grow individually and now we hope to be able to capitalise on that individual development and show it with Los Pumas.
"In order to win more matches in The Rugby Championship, we need to play to the limit of our possibilities.
"We are well aware that we still have to work to be at the level of the other teams participating in the tournament, but we also know that we are capable of playing good rugby and, as a consequence, perhaps we will get to achieve victories."
Doing so at Twickenham - in the rematch against World Cup semi-final rivals Australia - would be extra special.
"It is incredible [playing at Twickenham], a great honour indeed. It will surely be fantastic to play at that stadium, and special for rugby worldwide," he added.
"Having the opportunity to relive the World Cup semi finals just adds to the emotion of the event."
Argentina: tbc
South Africa: 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Ruan Combrink, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Faf de Klerk; 1 Tendai Mtawarira, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 3 Vincent Koch, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 5 Lood de Jager, 6 Francois Louw, 7 Oupa Mahoje, 8 Warren Whiteley
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 20 Jaco Kriel, 21 Rudy Paige, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 Jesse Kriel.
