Argentina transform pastime into elite force
For a bunch of amateurs, they ain't half bad. They're highly skilled in their chosen professions and equally as talented with a ball in their hands. That's Argentina, who delighted fans over the weekend and just came up short against England in the Cup final last night.
What could they be if they devoted all their time to sevens? 'We'd be a lot better,' said captain Francisco Leonelli, a chilling thought for England and company.
Argentina boast a lineup of lawyers, journalists and doctors and other professionals, who just happen to be outstanding rugby players. 'We struggle because we don't get a lot of time to prepare,' Leonelli said after another lion-hearted performance.
'The physical difference is very big with other teams so we have to offset that with lots of guts and technique. It is not easy for us. Sometimes the teams are stronger and faster. But our preparation is better all the time. For sure we can improve. If we get more time training, improve our physical condition and our game, we would get better. We are doing things better off the field with a structure for players and officials. We are changing little things to make it better and it's showing on the field.
'We're trying to keep the same players in each sevens and that is very good because we know each other. We are very close to each other. Our future is bright as we have very young players.'
Argentina joined the elite teams by beating New Zealand in Los Angeles last month, a victory considered as a shock. Not any longer. They showed they had the Kiwis number by beating them again, in the semi-finals yesterday, 19-17.
'To win twice in a row against New Zealand is amazing because rugby is almost a religion for them. After beating them in Los Angeles we knew they would be after us.'
And it looked good in the final when Leonelli crashed over for the opening try. But a series of infringements in the rucks handed the advantage to England and it was game over, despite Matias Albina giving Argentina some hope by clawing the score back to 17-12.
However, Rob Thirlby put the nail in their coffin.
'We played very well, but were not good enough to win,' the captain said. 'I'm disappointed that we lost but England are a very good team and we have to recognise that.
'We have made a lot of progress and that's important. I'm very proud of that and we are working hard to improve further. We didn't play as well as we did in Los Angeles. That was superlative, the best we have ever played.'
Leonelli said the referee's ruling at ruck time had left them perplexed. 'I want to see the game again. We lost it in the rucks. Every time when we went into the rucks, it was a penalty against us. If you lose every ruck against this team, then it is very difficult to win.
'Sometimes we put our hands on the ball. Other times we only pushed and we were penalised again. I want to see that again as maybe when you're playing you don't see everything.
'I feel sometimes he was right and sometimes he was not. I don't know if he was equal for both sides. This wasn't the only problem, but an important one.'
No prizes for guessing the thorn in their side - Richard Haughton, the player of the tournament.
'He is really quick,' Leonelli said. 'Our wings, Francisco Bosch and Pablo Gomez Cora, are as quick, but it is difficult if anyone as fast as him gets a split second start on you. That's it, it's a try. You just have to close him down. If you give him space ... aghh . .. I don't know how you can stop him.
'This sevens series has so many good teams. You can't expect to be in the final again just because you made it in Hong Kong,' he said, as the Argentinians prepared to hitch their wagon train for the next stop in Singapore.
