Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Los Pumas, the injury gods have thrown them yet another curveball. Argentina's squad has hit a snag with the loss of key players, Tomas Albornoz and Gonzalo Garcia, as they prepare to face off against the Springboks at Twickenham this coming Saturday. The timing? Terrible. The implications? Even worse.
Flyhalf Albornoz, who recently made a comeback from a hand injury, dazzled briefly by scoring in last week’s painful 67-30 thumping by the Boks in Durban. However, his comeback was short-lived as he picked up yet another injury, which sidelines him this week. Meanwhile, scrumhalf Garcia is out of the game following a nasty in-team collision with Guido Petti, leaving him concussed and benched.
With their backs against the wall, Coach Felipe Contepomi has had to scramble to fill these gaps, calling up Gonzalo Bertranou and Nicolas Roger to join the fray in London. It’s less than ideal for a team already licking its wounds from previous defeats and now staring down the barrel of a Springbok gun with all cylinders firing.
"You don’t want Sacha to play"
The disruptions throw a wrench in Argentina's works, especially as they are already out of the running in this year’s Rugby Championship. Contrast that with the Springboks, who march into Twickenham with the swagger of a team on the brink of clinching the title, having dispatched the All Blacks and Pumas in quick succession.
Rassie Erasmus’ squad, riding high at the top of the standings, are the clear favorites going into this match. It’s hard to see how a battered and bruised Argentina side can muster the strength to challenge the Boks, especially after the recent demolition in Durban.
Yet, despite the odds stacked high against them, the spirit of rugby is all about resilience and surprise. Who knows? Maybe Los Pumas, the underdogs in this tale, are gearing up to deliver a twist in this rugby narrative. One can only hope they bring a bit more to the field this Saturday than just a fighting spirit.
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Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse for Los Pumas, the injury gods have thrown them yet another curveball. Argentina's squad has hit a snag with the loss of key players, Tomas Albornoz and Gonzalo Garcia, as they prepare to face off against the Springboks at Twickenham this coming Saturday. The timing? Terrible. The implications? Even worse.
Flyhalf Albornoz, who recently made a comeback from a hand injury, dazzled briefly by scoring in last week’s painful 67-30 thumping by the Boks in Durban. However, his comeback was short-lived as he picked up yet another injury, which sidelines him this week. Meanwhile, scrumhalf Garcia is out of the game following a nasty in-team collision with Guido Petti, leaving him concussed and benched.
With their backs against the wall, Coach Felipe Contepomi has had to scramble to fill these gaps, calling up Gonzalo Bertranou and Nicolas Roger to join the fray in London. It’s less than ideal for a team already licking its wounds from previous defeats and now staring down the barrel of a Springbok gun with all cylinders firing.
"You don’t want Sacha to play"
The disruptions throw a wrench in Argentina's works, especially as they are already out of the running in this year’s Rugby Championship. Contrast that with the Springboks, who march into Twickenham with the swagger of a team on the brink of clinching the title, having dispatched the All Blacks and Pumas in quick succession.
Rassie Erasmus’ squad, riding high at the top of the standings, are the clear favorites going into this match. It’s hard to see how a battered and bruised Argentina side can muster the strength to challenge the Boks, especially after the recent demolition in Durban.
Yet, despite the odds stacked high against them, the spirit of rugby is all about resilience and surprise. Who knows? Maybe Los Pumas, the underdogs in this tale, are gearing up to deliver a twist in this rugby narrative. One can only hope they bring a bit more to the field this Saturday than just a fighting spirit.
Teams will be announced closer to the game date.