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Jaguares' continued improvement raises questions over the future of Argentina and Super Rugby

(Photos / Getty Images)

OPINION: Last night’s victory over the Hurricanes marked the third time in four attempts that the Jaguares have triumphed over a New Zealand team on their home ground.

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In 2018, the Jaguares secured a 20-13 win over the Blues at Eden Park and then backed it up with 23-19 win a week later against the Chiefs in Rotorua. That second victory capped off the end of an undefeated four-match tour to Australia and New Zealand for the Jaguares.

It’s now the Jaguares’ fourth year playing in Super Rugby and they’ve comfortably been the most successful addition to the tournament to date.

Last year, the Jaguares made the Super Rugby finals for the first time and bowed out in the quarter-finals to the Lions.

This year, the Jaguares have continued to build on 2018’s success and are well placed to push for another finals spot. They’re currently fourth on the overall ladder and can’t be overtaken in round 14 by any teams that will have played an equal number of matches. Factor in that the Jaguares’ final four games include matches against three teams sitting in the bottom five of the competition and Jaguares supporters have every reason to be confident.

When the Jaguares were first introduced to Super Rugby, Argentinian players were required to represent the team (or another based in Argentina) if they wanted to play international football. This guaranteed a strong squad from day one. It also benefited the national team by giving its player plenty of time together in camp.

This ruling, however, meant that a number of stars conceded the ability to play for Argentina in exchange for the better lifestyles on offer in Europe. The likes of Juan Figallo, Facundo Isa and Marcelo Bosch have all been excluded from selection at one point or another due to representing clubs outside of Argentina.

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Various figures rightly questioned the legitimacy of the Jaguares and the Pumas operating in separate competitions with two different coaches when the sides were comprised of basically the same players. The Jaguares offered a clear local pathway from club to international rugby, but it was a very linear path. This rule also hampered development opportunities as only 23 Argentinian players could be playing top level rugby each week. Unsurprisingly, the Argentina national team have not improved in recent years.

This requirement has since been dropped with Pumas coach Mario Ledesma now allowed to call on foreign based players should the need arise. Although there were fears this policy change could lead to a mass exodus, Argentina now have the best of both worlds, with young athletes able to develop under the guidance of the Jaguares and Pumas coaches in Argentina before potentially heading overseas to hone their craft.

The current selection policy also means that cultivating players in key positions is no longer such a challenge. Nicolás Sánchez, with over 70 international caps to his name, is a tried and tested first-five. He left the Jaguares at the end of 2018 and is now playing for Stade Francais which has allowed Joaquín Díaz Bonilla and Domingo Miotti to develop at the Jaguares. Had Sánchez remained in Argentina, the Pumas would be required to use a back-up flyhalf in their match-day squad who was also only a back-up at Super Rugby level.

There’s no question that the current situation will benefit Argentina in the long-run.

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Players have not been departing the country in droves even though the money on offer in Europe far trumps what’s available in Argentina. This is partly because Ledesma and the Argentinian selectors favour picking players who are locally based and partly because the Jaguares players very much enjoy representing their Super Rugby side.

Even with the slightly more relaxed rules, the national side is still comprised of predominantly Jaguares players. Only five players who represented Argentina in 2018’s November series will not line up for the Jaguares in 2020. This means that the Jaguares are still able to put out an international quality side in Super Rugby each week, giving them a distinct advantage over other teams.

What then, does the future hold for the Argentinian set-up?

Americas Rugby News reported earlier in the year that a fully professional South American club competition is on the horizon which could include teams from Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay. This competition would not be anywhere near the level of Super Rugby but it would give Argentina a genuine alternative system for developing young players.

The Pumas are effectively selecting from a pool of about 40 candidates at present. A professional South American competition could change this. The next step, of course, is for Argentina to gain a greater footing in the next level up.

Super Rugby is a broken competition. In 2021 the tournament will likely revert to a 15-team, full round-robin due to the omission of Japan’s Sunwolves. What will happen in the future is anyone’s guess, but Argentina desperately need a second team playing at the same level as the Jaguares to improve their chances on the international stage. Super Rugby is obviously where Argentina are currently represented, but adding a second team to the competition would once again require a complete revamp – something which fans will be pessimistic about, given past expansions haven’t exactly increased the quality of product on offer.

It’s still too early for a second Super Rugby team to be introduced in Argentina for a number of reasons, but the Jaguares concept simply doesn’t make sense for the long-term future. There’s already plenty of debate regarding which direction Super Rugby should take moving forward – the Jaguares’ continued improvement just adds to the already countless factors that need to be considered.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 2 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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