Argentina left out in cold

[beige]

By Wayne Smith
February 19, 2008

FOR one brief shining moment yesterday it seemed world rugby finally had done the honourable thing and found a way to bring the third best Test side in the game, Argentina, into the mainstream.

Sadly, it proved to be a false dawn and by day's end, Argentina was as much in the dark as it has ever been.

Hopes were raised when the South African newspaper The Times reported that SANZAR had offered Argentina the opportunity to sample the Tri-Nations by playing non-competition matches against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in July-August this year. Hence, while Australia and New Zealand were fighting out a Bledisloe Test, for instance, South Africa would play the Pumas instead of taking its customary bye.

Given that South Africa is the current holder of the rotating SANZAR secretariat, the reported comments of SARU managing director Jonathan Stones that the International Rugby Board was "extremely interested" in having Argentina involved in the Tri-Nations caused quite a flap in New Zealand and Australia.

Over in Auckland, visiting IRB chief executive Mike Millar confirmed the SANZAR invitation, although noting it was conditional on Argentina fielding its strongest side. It was at this point that the plot began to unravel.

As every IRB and SANZAR official is well aware, all of Argentina's top players play with British or European clubs, all of which have been reassured by the IRB that July-August is the designated rest period for their players.

It was at the Woking conference last November when the world's top rugby nations met in a futile attempt to devise a global season that this rest period was set in stone by the IRB.

Concurrently, the SANZAR nations, holding their own meeting in Woking, issued their "Claytons" invitation to the Pumas to play against the Tri-Nations teams this winter, knowing full well there was no way the Argentinian Rugby Union could deliver its top side.

For a brief period yesterday, confusion reigned at the Australian Rugby Union's headquarters, with no-one knowing for certain whether Stones and Millar were referring to the original Woking invitation or whether the IRB had actually exercised some muscle and forced the European clubs to release their star players to the Pumas, prompting a fresh and meaningful invitation.

The thought of the IRB actually taking charge of its own game should have been enough to tip off the ARU that it was all a non-event. After an hour or two, Australian officials worked it out for themselves.

Argentina left out in cold - Rugby - Fox Sports

[unipirate]

This situation could be solved by the IRB. We cannot expect SANZAR to be able to push around northern hemisphere clubs and tell them what to do. I feel SANZAR also has the right to stipulate to Argentina that they must feild theor strongest side, what is th epoint if they do not? Yes some of their other players would get experience, but would the matches be worth while if AU,RSA and NZ just ran over this deminished Argentinian side?

To put it plainly SANZAR wouldn't get anything out of playing a deminished Argentinian opposition. They are looking after the interested of the tri-Nations, nothing wrong with that is there?

I think if the IRB thought this was a viable idea they could step in a change their stance on this rest period!!! SANZAR can't do much about that unfortunately!

[James]

Argentina will get participation in a major competition when they are ready. In this case being ready is having the sport professionalised in Argentina. Until they do that they can expect nothing and will probably get nothing.