Wales’ first up opponents at the Millennium Stadium this autumn (in the Dove Men Challenge opener on Nov 10th), have won plaudits for their displays in the Rugby Championship, even though they are yet to sample the sweet taste of success.
Deans breathed a heavy sigh of relief after seeing his side score 17 unanswered points to snatch a late 23-19 win at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast which prevented the Pumas from claiming their first scalp in the tournament.
Deans, who heaped praise on Argentina’s performance against his Wallabies side, said: “I wouldn’t underestimate what we have just done. No side has played with any fluency against Argentina. I think we need to give them due respect. They’ve just come into the tournament and obviously, a big motivation for them is to earn respect.”
He added: “They’re a tough team to play against. They’re sticky, they’re proud, they defend superbly well. Their tackling is remarkable. Give them credit.”
It is now only a matter of time until Argentina add composure to their rigid defence and battering physical approach and become a force in the Rugby Championship, Deans added.
“They’re potentially scary, absolutely,” he said. “Once that anxiety goes out of it, I guess, they will start to play. They’ve got the capacity to play. They’re very similar to the French, in the way they play their rugby – enormous pride, as good a pride you find in any side in world rugby.”
Former Argentina and Wallabies prop Topo Rodriguez says he believes the Pumas can become Rugby Championship winners by 2014 and Wallabies hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, suggested the competition newcomers are more powerful up front than both South Africa and New Zealand.
“It (their scrum)’s on a par, but if anything better,” said the 37-Test Aussie front rower. They probably have the stats for the highest turnovers and it’s because of all their forwards working so well in the defensive area and jackling and creating such a mess at the breakdown.
“Technically if we’re not sound we’ll get punished. So as a contest it’s on par or if not better because I think from (numbers) one to eight they can all be jacklers.”
And Rodriguez is the latest to compliment the Pumas in a way that will have reverberated around Welsh rugby headquarters ahead of their autumn visit.
“I think realistically speaking this year, they could finish third but next year they will have this experience and I think they will really give it a good crack,” said Rodriguez, who bases himself in Australia.
“If we want to be a bit more conservative, then 2014 Argentina will win it. But I think they will be ready next year for everything.
“Put it this way, I wouldn’t put my money or my house on the Wallabies as they’ve been quite inconsistent. Their form in the last two years, they haven’t played three or four games at hard level. They play one and then drop off a bit I would say (Argentina) could leave here with a few points and finishing it off in Rosario is a good possibility.”
Wales also face Australia this Autumn in the final game of the four match Dove Men Challenge series which will also see Samoa (Friday 16th Nov) and the All Blacks (Saturday 27th November – Sold-out) come to Cardiff.
But with the Pumas first up, and winning plaudits from around the globe (Former Wales and current New Zealand head coach Steve Hansen said: “Argentina are only going to get better and better.”) they will be at the forefront of Welsh minds for the next two months.
Santiago Phelan’s outfit have claimed a 16-16 draw against South Africa and also pushed New Zealand close in their opening campaign.
After the All Blacks clash in Wellington, in which Argentina were trailing by a point at halftime before losing 21-5, Hansen commented on the intensity of the Pumas play: “In the first half we tried to play too much rugby with ball we should have held onto, but some of that was also due in part to the intensity the Argentinians brought.”
It is comments like these that have led to growing expectation they can overcome Australia in at least one of their two games with the Wallabies in the coming weeks.
By November, Welsh coaches should be under no illusion as to where the Argentinian threats will come from, but Pumas prop Marcos Ayerza surprises no one when he says his team sees scrum dominance as a mental and physical boost.
“It’s historically been a main objective for any Argentinian team, to have a solid scrum and build from that psychological domination, and we’re trying to bring that back,” he said.
“From that dominance, even if it might be an inch, you start building your confidence with every part of the game.”
The power and passion the Pumas have produced in the inaugural Rugby Championship has left Australia coach Robbie Deans in no doubt Argentina can become a true force in the game.
Wales’ clash with the All Blacks at the Millennium Stadium is already sold out, but tickets remain for their meeting with impressive Rugby Championship newcomers Argentina, South Sea Islanders Samoa and Rugby World Cup nemesis side Australia. Prices start at £60 for the series climax clash with the Wallabies, but children can watch Samoa and/or the Pumas for as little as £10 per head with an adult ticket starting at £25 and £30 respectively.
FIXTURES STILL ON SALE:
10 November 2012, 1430hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v ARGENTINA Adults £30 U16 £10
16 November 2012, 1930hrs, Millennium Stadium
WALES v SAMOA Adults £25 U16 £10
1 December 2012 1430 hrs
WALES v AUSTRALIA From £60
Tickets on sale now wru.co.uk
