[QUOTE = "Cruz_del_Sur, post: 965463, member: 55747"] I agree with you about the currie cup, but I don't buy the rest of your argument H.
I could buy it on a non-world cup year to explain our performance during the mid-year and end of year internationals. But not on a world cup year.[/ QUOTE]
This I don't understand from your side. The pressure in a World Cup year is a lot higher than other years (maybe the B&I Lions tour). And teams usually play equal amount of games internationally in a World Cup year than any other year, sometimes even more if you include the playoffs and the warm-up matches.
The Super Rugby also started a bit earlier this year than last year, and went uninterrupted, unlike last year.
[QUOTE = "Cruz_del_Sur, post: 965463, member: 55747"]The first thing that came to mind when i read your post was Japan. They are the closest comparable and although they don't have to play TRC that should fade out given the time we had between TRC (short version this year) and the WC.
They are performing. We are not.[/ QUOTE]
Okay, let's compare Japan to Argentina. Both had the majority of their players playing Super Rugby that is now at the World Cup.
What's the difference? Japan rested their players for extended periods during the SR. Some players rested for 3-4 weeks inbetween matches. They even had a preparation camp in the middle of SR and the Sunwolves played with non-international players that week(s).
Rest and preparation. That's the difference.
[QUOTE = "Cruz_del_Sur, post: 965463, member: 55747"]The more i think about it the more clear it becomes. All of this, ALL OF THIS MESS, would be a non-issue if 4/5 players would have left the locker room focussed on the first game. Hell, not even on the game, just the first half.
That's it. We can sugar coat it the way we want, twist it, turn it around, the lot, but had we won the first game everything else would have been thrown under the table. Ledesma would have accomplished his goal and we would be "ok". Simple as that.[/ QUOTE]
Mental toughness is one of the key issues in preparation. And if you're not mentally up for it, then there really is no point in committing yourself...