Argentina Spanks France

Editor’s Note: Mat Brown’s blog will be moving to a new platform in 2008. Please bookmark the following url so that you can continue to enjoy his entries for MediaZone Rugby.
http://blogs.mediazone.com/BrowniesRugbyBunker/

The third place match – this year dubbed the Bronze Final – at all Rugby World Cups is a difficult one for the teams to get ready to play because after dreaming of hoisting the Webb Ellis trophy a week before, they’re now shattered to be playing in a meaningless encounter.

E-mail Brownie at MediaZone’s MailbagOriginally the consolation match had some value as the winner was spared the necessity of qualifying for the next tournament but that ended after 1999.  Now it’s just an extra fixture to generate revenue that both teams usually would rather skip.  Last night, however, Argentina used the game to show that their earlier performances in the tourney were not just flukes, that they do indeed belong amongst the top teams in the world and that they deserve to face quality opposition on a regular basis.

France, on the other hand, showed that at best they are a streaky team who can occasionally win big matches but struggle to achieve much outside of the Six Nations.  The amazing Tricolors defense that led them to victory over the All Blacks in the quarterfinals was nowhere to be seen as the Pumas ran in try after try to put the contest out of reach well before the end.  France’s highly rated backline only came alive late when the outcome was already decided.

So what does this third place finish mean for the Pumas and will it help them earn a berth in a major international competition in the near future?  The answer to the first question is that it has given the sport a huge boost of momentum back home and has raised their profile in the world game.  The answer to the second query is, unfortunately, a likely no. 

SANZAR and Newscorp rightfully don’t see any monetary advantage to adding the Pumas to the Tri Nations so it probably isn’t going to happen, at least until their current contract expires.  The Six Nations also has broadcast deals in place and the addition of six more matches would further upset the clubs who have to release their most expensive players to their countries.

So what’s the solution?  If they can’t be accommodated in an existing competition then they have to be given better touring fixtures as soon as possible because starting a new comp with North American or Islander teams would be a step backwards for the Pumas.  
At the very least they should be given a grand slam opportunity next Fall, and they should host a proper, minimum three test tour by one of the big three southern hemisphere nations each June.

What has tended to happen in the past is that whenever the top countries travel to Argentina they bring seriously under strength or even development sides, play a test or two, and then are gone without really doing much to build local excitement.  If the IRB really wants to help develop the game in a place where the play is already strong, then why not give Argentina a little extra support in this way?