The fatal last 20 minutes in the Pumas (again). What´s the problem?

[Superalexmarket]

It´s a phisical difference, psicological or both. What do you think?

 

[rgman]

We need a full time coach from a top 5 irb nations

Phelan soocks...that´s all

 

[tenpm]

A bit of both, I think. Some of it of course is probably psychological - not being used to playing at this intensity, etc - but the age of players might be a factor as well. Argentina's players are slightly older than other countries', though New Zealand's team has just as much, if not more, "old" players, even if we don't count Carter.

Stats for players' age for each team, in round 4:

Number of players in their 30s:
out of the first 15
AUS 2 ARG 5 NZL 5 RSA 1
out of the 22
AUS 3 ARG 5 NZL 6 RSA 2

Average age
of the first 15
AUS 26.3 ARG 28.9 NZL 27.3 RSA 27.3
of the 22
AUS 25.8 ARG 28.3 NZL 26.7 RSA 26.3

Median age
of the first 15
AUS 26 ARG 28 NZL 27 RSA 27
of the 22
AUS 26 ARG 28 NZL 26 RSA 27

 

[Ruckyou]

Fitness must be a factor, once argentina are fatigued they seem to make fundamental errors which cost them the game, against the best 3 teams in the world your game has to be pretty much perfect. Maybe a domestic team in Argentina should play in the super15 if they really want to get them up to speed in the rugby championship. 2 more home games left for them i wont be surprised if theirs an upset.

 

[admartian]

I say psychological and a little bit of depth.

The SANZAR countries can afford to have a bit more firepower off the bench (more so with NZ and SA, not so much with AU) therefore losing very little (sometimes gaining more) when subbing players on/off.

That and the Pumas just need a bit more time to get sued to playing these teams regularly. Sooner rather than alter, they will be more consistent with wins. We might even see them upset the ABs in two weeks time.

If not, they'll definitely beat AU.

 

[Big Ewis]

^ I agree. And obviously with time as you said they'll start winning rather consistently. This is just their first RC EVER and they almost got the Boks at home, managed to tie, led amply in Australia for quite a while and lost by a fart, and even kept the AB's from their try-line 66min into the game !!

These are quite formidable results, with the exception of that first game in SA...
So in a very near future, who knows, 5-10 years ? Next year ?! They're getting used to this top3 competition in that they're not underdogs all of a sudden; they just win, they don't upset; and they play their own rhythm rather than constantly trying to catch up on the opponent's.

 

[Colombia]

The Springboks fade in the last 20 minutes too. It tends to happen to forwards based rugby teams. They build their lead in the first 60 minutes and defend for the last 20 mins (South Africa 2009 3N a prime example).

The Pumas problem is the lead they've built in the first 60 minutes isn't big enough - the Wobs were 13-19 on 60 minutes at the weekend. 20 minutes is too long to defend a 6 point lead.

 

[Icemn]

The Springboks fade in the last 20 minutes too. It tends to happen to forwards based rugby teams. They build their lead in the first 60 minutes and defend for the last 20 mins (South Africa 2009 3N a prime example).

The Pumas problem is the lead they've built in the first 60 minutes isn't big enough - the Wobs were 13-19 on 60 minutes at the weekend. 20 minutes is too long to defend a 6 point lead.

park the bus...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Do you work at a parking garage, Icemn?

 

[Icemn]

Do you work at a parking garage, Icemn?

what the hell is a parking garage :?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

 

[rgman]

Amateur soul

The only time of speculation that have Los Pumas is in the 80th minute, when alarm sounds.... sad, but true

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Argentina will have a chance to develop now. They played at home once, earning a draw. Who knows what will happen against the ANZAC teams.

 

[Big Ewis]

well they definitely need better kickers for one.
Better attack for 2, even though they've managed to score a few tries already.
And somehow, yes, that last 20-min composure. But they"re playing the top3 all time best teams in this tournament, let's never forget that no matter how well the Pumas play, they"'re still over-achieving each time...they're NOT like those other 3, they still are very much underdogs...so to maintain such a high level of focus and physical effort, obviously, they can't keep it up for 80...

 

[Shaggy]

The Pumas are already a success in the RC, regardless of what happens in the next two matches ... If they can play that well away from home, they are going to be very tough at home for Australia and New Zealand