Source:
https://scmp.com/sport/rugby/article/1610163/argentina-hail-agustin-pichot-after-victory-over-wallabies Rugby
Argentina hail Agustin Pichot after victory over Wallabies
Australia fume over laser-beaming Mendoza fans as media back home describe their performance as an ‘absolute shambles’
Former Argentina scrum-half and captain Agustin Pichot celebrates after the Pumas beat France in the RWC 2007 third-place match at the Parc des Princes in Paris. Photos: AFP
Argentina dedicated their first Rugby Championship victory to former star Agustin Pichot while Australia fumed over laser-beaming Mendoza spectators.
Pichot, an inspirational scrum-half and skipper when the Pumas finished third at the 2007 Rugby World Cup, was widely praised after a come-from-behind 21-17 victory.
Coach Daniel Hourcade, skipper and hooker Agustin Creevy, and long-serving inside centre Juan Martin Hernandez were among those who lauded Pichot.
The 40-year-old played a key role in convincing southern hemisphere officials two years ago to expand a Tri-nations tournament featuring Australia, New Zealand and South Africa and include Argentina.
"I thank Agustin for his support and leadership," said Hourcade, who replaced Santiago Phelan last year after two winless Championship campaigns.
Creevy said: "I am grateful to Agustin for his unconditional support."
"Many people were involved in making this dream come true, but I want to dedicate the victory to Agustin," said Hernandez.
Ambitious Argentina, the lone top-tier rugby nation in South America, will enter the Super 18 inter-provincial competition in 2016.
While Argentina celebrated a maiden Championship test victory after 16 losses and a draw over three seasons, Australia fly-half Bernard Foley lashed out at laser beamers as he prepared for a routine second-half kick at goal that would have given the Wallabies a 20-18 lead.
But his attempt rebounded off the post, and a late penalty from fly-half Nicolas Sanchez sealed success.
"It's not great," Foley said. "It was happening all night."
Australia coach Ewen McKenzie has come under increasing pressure at home following the Wallabies loss to Argentina.
"A rudderless and distracted Wallabies outfit got what they deserved by suffering the embarrassment of being Argentina's first victim in the Rugby Championship," veteran rugby correspondent Greg Growden wrote on ESPN Scrum.com.
"The Wallabies easily won the mistake-error count. The Pumas won the up-front battle, mincing the Australian scrum at times, and so were able to dominate possession and territory.
"A better side – New Zealand, South Africa, England even – would have put the Wallabies away by at least 20 points."
Growden said McKenzie's position as coach is under serious question after the team suffered one of its most inexplicable losses of recent times.
"McKenzie has to accept much of the blame for the Mendoza fiasco. His Rugby Championship record is underwhelming," he wrote.
The Sydney Morning Herald said McKenzie needed to fix the Wallabies' problems soon or "things could get ugly".
"The honeymoon ended some time ago for McKenzie, whose 'approval rating' will be forever amplified or decimated by the unbridled optimism his appointment triggered," the Herald said.