Sergio Hernandez, coach of the Argentine basketball team, tired of hearing so many references about the supposed importance of strategy, once drew the line: “No tactic will exceed a player’s ability to execute.”. He had no disdain for work. Just a way to balance the belief that with obsession with science everything is solved.
Anyone who wanders onto a rugby field in Argentina must have heard dozens of strict doctrines and rules. “You can’t win if you don’t have 15 people who know how to handle the ball”, “You can’t win without a good crowd”… or what is useful at the moment: “You can’t win without a kick”.
Now that the euphoria of the Pumas’ remarkable comeback against Scotland at Murrayfield (33-24) has ended, some more specific aspects of the match that have nothing to do with the emotion generated by the final result can be analysed.
Felipe Contepomi did not explain his decision to leave Santiago Carreras (27 years old) from the title in the Edinburgh match. Most likely it was related to offering him comfort. Also need to roll in this position Geronimo Preciantelli (26) Who showed very exciting attacking conditions in recent tests. Facing the misfortune of some injuries, it is always important to have alternatives ready.
If the analysis is long-term, that is the argument and it seems to be sustainable. If this test match is checked on time, it can be said so The Pumas had some drawbacks playing without a kicker. And yet they won.
Naturally, the team’s rise coincided with the entry of Priscientelli Carreras, and this can be explained as the reason for the victory. It is true that Bath’s full-back had a huge impact, but not because of the kicks specifically, but because of the game.
We can list some of the actions in that first half, before entering, and why the Pumas were unable to score points with their feet:
Going into half-time with the score at zero might have been a sign that had dented the team’s spirit, but it wasn’t.
The virtues the coach finds in Prescientelli go far beyond his kicks or shots. He showed against Wales that he has crafty footwork, the kind that often sets up plays. Contepomi likes this.
However, the Racing de Paris full-back, who was the No. 10 here, did not look good. It was only his fourth game in a Pumas shirt, which might make sense. He seemed very controlled with his touch passes. Simple details? It could be. But at this very demanding level, it means fewer meters gained and playing further away from the opponent’s goal.
To make matters worse, three minutes into the second half, Prisciantelli conceded an errant kick when forced to clear the ball from 22 yards and not only failed to touch it, but left it ten meters inside the pitch. The action ended with Euan Ashman’s third try for Scotland.
After two minutes, Contepome chose to end what looked like a test and sent Santiago Carreras onto the field for Prescientelli.
Carreras’ first kick was inside. In the 17th minute of the start of the second half, Julian Montoya converted an attempt. But with the awkward profile of the right corner and more, Rodrigo Isgro’s effort fell flat. Here it is worth delving into memories on this topic. When Carreras was “reinvented” as an opener by Mario Ledesma, the adaptation also suffered greatly.
However, over time, he made noticeable improvements. He’s become a great performer and was having a great year. That’s why it was strange that he wasn’t a starter because there was no other natural kicker. In recent matches, he was decisive due to his success rate. He also added a lot of hurt in the attacking match against Scotland. It showed that the experience was not in vain. This puts him one point above Prescientelli.
Last Friday, when the formation was announced, Felipe Contepomi completely minimized the kick problem. Perhaps with the intention of relieving the pressure on the two men who can handle the commitment. “We haven’t decided which player is taking the kick yet. Sometimes we sit down and talk about it. They know who’s good and who’s not. In that sense, the good thing about these guys is that they put the team above their own egos and they know who’s better. For us, it’s another job, like the hooker throws the line, and we have confidence in who’s going to do it.”
The matter is clear: even if the statement may contain “another job,” In the end, it is an often crucial task (Not always, see). There are many examples where close endings are won or lost because of those “details”.
The current Pumas coach knows this well. His arrival at the Pumas as a player happened when Gonzalo Quesada was the top flight player. A man who is infallible in sending to the sticks. Contepomi came from behind screaming for position. Technically he performed much better attacking and gave more variables than Quesada. But she did not have the accuracy of the kick.
In the historic match in Lens, against Ireland in the 1999 World Cup, Contepome came on in the second half and Quesada (who was the top scorer in that tournament) moved to the back of the field. It was a win-win. Felipe was involved in the legendary Albanian try with a perfect jump. The kicker converted a key penalty kick to seal the win.
But Felipe focused on improving his kick, and he was very good too. So much so that he surpassed Hugo Porta as Pumas’ all-time top scorer (651 vs. 590), He held this distinction until he was passed by Nico Sanchez (902) in 2018.
It is very clear that kicking skill can be honed. Kicking can be created even without innate talent. But to achieve this, constant practice and continuity are essential.
Carreras, Priciantelli and Malia are not just natural openings. They have no responsibility to be kickers on their teams. They only take over the role when the original performer is not present. For this reason, it is plausible that it will be difficult for them to assume this role when they arrive in the Argentine national team. They can practice dozens of shots a day in training, but nothing compares to the adrenaline of the real game. And they don’t have a practice there.
It is not a situation that can be easily resolved, because Emiliano Bovelli (30 years old), a more reliable player, has undergone back surgery for the third time and this is not a replacement. while Thomas Albornoz (28), who plays as flyhalf and is a footballer for Toulon, is also injured.
The Pumas kicked two penalties (0/2) and five conversions (4/5). They achieved 8 points out of a possible 16. Scotland kicked a penalty (1/1) and three conversions (3/3). He received 9 points out of a possible 9. Fortunately, This flaw was replaced by the momentum of the Puma aircraft, Who did everything necessary to hide kick errors, various hits and even losses on the line.
Because the will to win, and the execution that Sergio Hernandez talks about, is above all else. This does not mean that you will have to sweep the dust under the rug. Contepomi won’t allow it.
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