Since the Pumas joined Championship Rugby in 2012, they have seen sustained growth. Some years it is easier to perceive development than in others. Be careful: this is not about returning to the word “learning”, which was repeated often between defeats and became a new reason for ridicule. As was the phrase “deserved defeat” before. It’s time to replace excuses or euphemisms. These pumas have a winning identity and profile that can’t be hidden. They are far from being favourites. But they haven’t had impossible rivals for long. Although the opposite is England, which competes with South Africa for the nomination as the best team in the world. The November round concluded that the Pumas had the courage to say they could become world champions.
Only once in history has a national team declared its goal to win the World Cup. That was in 2007. It wasn’t enough, but those Pumas who won the bronze medal were extremely motivated, with the best performance anyone on our team can remember.
The next world competition will be in Australia in 2027. Well, the full number, 20 years, is worth having the courage to say. Without arrogance, but with conviction. Without exaggeration, but with foundations.
There are seven clear reasons to believe that this idea is concrete.
1) Physical condition
This team seems to be at the peak of its athletic level. The strength that shows in the energy with which they reach the end of the games. It is no coincidence that so many comebacks have occurred. Technology may be lacking, and there may be errors in decision making. But there was no longer that physical decline that caused the performance to decline in the last 20 minutes. Moreover, it is a power they use to subdue their opponents in the decisive part.
2) Diversity in the game
Many years ago, the idea that the Pumas’ strength lay in their gritty attacking line ended. There is no idea of an elite team focusing their offensive value on one part of the team.
Argentina adapts to the needs posed by each challenge. The instinct for open, fluid play that prevailed in the Jaguares’ Super Rugby days finds as many avenues as the overwhelming will of the forwards. But what distinguishes the line is the attack. He doesn’t speculate, he wants to get the try, searching for the opponent’s goal as much as the game allows.
Even when she knows less in other areas and makes obvious mistakes, can she find a way to energize herself to attack in pursuit of victory?
3) To be classified
Rugby plans its competitions in advance. Qualifying for the 2027 World Cup was decided more than a year ago. In the same way the group leaders met. Argentina is in the top six (and playing like that). This is crucial. He will no longer encounter New Zealand, South Africa and England, these three giants who, although no longer difficult to reach, leave their mark after the matches. The wear and tear they generate (mental and physical) is greater than anything else.
Without them at the beginning of the journey, it is possible to think about a positive classification in the group and a positive pass in the elimination stage. This will be key, since another example has now been added, the Round of 16.
4) Hesitation before forces
Playing every year for the All Blacks, Wallabies and Springboks normalized the demand. Getting into the system is so complex that statistical interpretation is necessary to understand it. The Pumas began playing championship rugby in 2012. They have played exactly 13 tournaments (one of which was suspended due to the pandemic). If you look at them coldly, the numbers are not good: they lost 54 out of 69 matches and won only 14 (20% success). He wins one game out of every five, to put it in context.
If you want to compare another country entering a major tournament against top-tier nations in this way, you have to look at Italy, who have just completed a quarter-century in the Six Nations. He joined the Italian national team in 2000, and in 25 seasons achieved only 16 wins out of 130 matches, with two draws and 112 losses. Only 12% of wins: 1 match every 10.
This comparison is unfair to Puma, as the hierarchy of their rivals is superior to that faced by the Italians. But it is nothing more than a way to explain how complicated it can be for an outside agent to enter the competition. These are processes that can take decades.
The difference between Argentina and Italy is huge. For example: In its recent history, between 2016 and 2021, Italy played six consecutive tournaments without winning a single match. Something that only happened to Puma in the first two years. She never reached all three.
Moreover, if the history of the national team is analysed, the development can be clearly seen. And he also discovered that in the best moments of those 13 seasons he connected at the highest level. In the first nine years, the Pumas won 5, drew one and lost 42. In the last four years, they won 8 and lost 13. The record is still negative, but more balanced.
5) Amateur passion
There is a unique aspect that sets Argentine rugby apart from all other top-tier countries: its clubs. This concept does not exist in the rest of the world. This driving force, which can be a disease for many due to the lack of 100% professional foundations, can also be used as a motivational force.
The phrase said by Julian Montoya in the final press conference before playing for England is key. “We work all year and think exclusively about playing here. It is the most beautiful part of the year,” summed up the hooker who was present in 13 Test matches in 2025.
Montoya moved from Leicester in England to Pau in France. How might a new employer feel about such a statement? Montoya is one of the best players in the world at his position. Whoever rents it does so even though he knows that he will lose it for four months. Because our players are also demanding to play for their national team. They enforce World Rugby rules. Someone might think that if it is written then it should not be highlighted as a virtue. But it is enough to review cases in other countries to realize that the rules are not always followed. The pressure of who pays has always been there and will always be there. This concept is also important for Argentine players. But they never go away.
Of course all countries have passion and want to win. But stimulating emotion has a different point. Brian Habana, a few years ago, defined it as follows: “Rugby in Argentina is different from everyone else’s because it is based on an amateur club structure. Their rugby culture is very impressive. They feel they have to do the team proud in the global context.”
Transition to professionalism. Often underappreciated (and with difficulties in popularization), Super Rugby Americas is the best way to link Argentine amateurism with European rugby (or with Super Rugby Pacifc). Young people between the ages of 19 and 22 find the adaptation platform easy and sufficient. Example of four players who will migrate in 2026: Justo Picardo (from Pampas to Montpellier), Agustin Moyano (from Dogos to Western Force), Simon Benitez Cruz (from Tarukas to Newcastle), and Thomas Rapetti (from Pampas to Toulouse) played against England.
6) Long band
Partly, as a result of the previous item. The formation is no longer 15 players, but 23. As never before, Felipe Contepomi has an influential alternative. A second unit capable of maintaining or even increasing the intensity of the match, as happened in the match against Scotland, with those five match-breaking entries. This was also seen, albeit to a lesser extent, against England.
Almost all positions have substitutes at similar levels. Of course, there are some specific places where the difference between a novice and an understudy is more pronounced. The right sector of the scrum batch (3 and 5) still needs to find replacements. Joel Sclavi is a mainstay, but those who follow him are still one step behind. Eduardo Bello’s injury weakened the sector. The same can be said at the No. 5 position. Markus Kremer (he contributes a lot as a third line) and Pedro Rubiolo rotated in this round.
There are many high-level players who are not there. Gonzalo García (26 years old) was absent due to injury, but for example several historical players over the age of 30 were excluded due to the coach’s decisions: Thomas Lavagnini (32), Jeronimo de la Fuente (34), Facundo Issa (32) and Rodrigo Bruni (32), to name a few. This indicates a breadth that was not known.
Just as there are reasons for enthusiasm, there are reasons that must be strengthened in order to finally define the team’s character.
Fixed formations
Historically, two have been considered: pipeline and scrum. In today’s rugby, exits must be added to this consideration. The latter is an alternative in which Pumas have a good advantage with Rodrigo Isgro, for example, who is very experienced in sevens.
But the scrum was inconsistent. In a field that is so specific in terms of technical details (and with varied interpretations by judges), it wouldn’t be bad to find greater rigidity. It’s a very specific training, but it has a huge impact on the players’ state of mind. It is the measure of power that often tips the balance psychologically.
The line was the big issue on this tour. Especially against Scotland when they lost by four goals. It didn’t work against England either. For example, a good starting platform there, in the final play of the game, would have allowed better alternatives to look to victory. The ball came out dirty and the attack became complicated.
End complexes
There are very good indicators in this regard, but no achievement can be achieved unless its players believe it can be achieved. After the defeat to England, in which they were on the verge of another shock comeback, there was no joy in the impressive performance. The only pain of defeat.
At that time, in 2007, after defeat to South Africa in the World Cup, Agustin Bisho declared: “The dream is over. It is impossible to become a world champion.” How many players today dare to say that the goal is the world title?
Contepomi left a little hint about this in an interview with The Times: “We’re not the best team in the world, but we can be the best team today. If we can achieve that every time we play, maybe we can win more games.”
Argentina today cannot be the No. 1 team in the world. But being a world champion is something different. So, you don’t need to be your best every day. It is enough to overcome each competitor in time. The November Tour has made clear that it is not a utopia.