Steve Hansen says 'horrific schedule' is hurting Argentina
Thursday 7 September 2017 14:03, UK
New Zealand coach Steve Hansen believes Argentina's "horrific schedule" is impacting on their performances and results.
The Pumas have been on a downward curve since reaching the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in 2015, winning just five of their 18 Tests.
Argentina are currently only permitted to select players from their Super Rugby side, Los Jaguares, who again struggled for consistency this season as they won seven and lost eight of their 15 fixtures.
Hansen, whose All Blacks side face Argentina in New Plymouth on Saturday, believes the demands of travelling is taking its toll, as is preventing Pumas head coach Daniel Hourcade from selecting Europe-based players like Facundo Isa and Juan Imhoff.
"They are in a difficult situation," said Hansen. "They've gone from being a team that was spread all around the world, which has its ups and downs, to a team that were brought together and put into the Super Rugby competition.
"They play four or five home games every year and their next closest game is New Zealand, which is about 15 hours flight time.
They've got a horrific schedule. I think that takes a lot out of them - I certainly wouldn't want to be doing it.
"They've got a horrific schedule. I think that takes a lot out of them - I certainly wouldn't want to be doing it - but it is what it is for them.
"Playing together all year around, is it fresh? I don't know, you'd have to ask them that. I know they have different coaches so that would bring some freshness but it's not like our guys who are involved in five franchises.
"They come together as a nation and while we travel a lot, we certainly don't have that amount of travel.
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"It's definitely different [for New Zealand] because you've got a make-up of five different teams, coming together as one en masse. That has some disadvantages but some positives too because they know each other well.
"Argentina are looking to try and modify how they play. They've always been strong up front and I've always felt they've been really quite classy in the backs.
"They have real ability to beat people and use the ball but they haven't always done that; they stayed with the less risky game of using their big forwards. Through Super Rugby they've started to develop a more rounded game.
"Have they got to where they want to get to? I don't think so but they're certainly trying. Has that been at the expense of some of their forward play? I'm not sure but there will be some compromising going on if you're trying to work hard on your other type of game.
"They're a good rugby team and if you don't respect them and turn up 100 per cent ready to go, they're capable of causing you problems."
Watch New Zealand v Argentina live on Sky Sports Action on Saturday from 8am.
