Pumas set for Tri-Nations inclusion
9 Mar 2010
The International Rugby Board will provide $2 million so that Argentina can join the Tri-Nations in 2012.
As reported on keo.co.za last month, the IRB said they would fund the deficit of Sanzar’s costs for allowing Argentina into the competition, which will now be expanded to a four nations tournament.
The Pumas’ commercial viability and sustainability was the final stumbling block after leading French clubs agreed to allow the Argentinean players to play in the southern hemisphere showpiece. IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said the one-off payment removes that final obstacle keeping the Pumas from joining the championship.
Lapasset said the IRB council is set to confirm the deal at a meeting next month.
120 Comments
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10 Mar 2010, 00:11 am
Charo, Big Hit, Kevin… im out, need sleep..
cheers
10 Mar 2010, 00:12 am
@Robzim:
rob,
i was a bit taken aback when the split happened as well.
but later, on reflection, to me it almost mirrored social and political life in sa.
in day to day life we see more of the “haves” moving to the private sector for services normally provided by the public sector eg health, education, security.
the govt has been woeful in trying to provide these basic rights – so the “have nots” suffer.
why? because the “have nots” do not have the will or the ability to provide for themselves.
sad state of affairs
10 Mar 2010, 00:16 am
@poppa69:
cheers poppa sleep deep.
i will be hitting the sack soon as well – need an early start to make up for playing golf tomorrow arvie
10 Mar 2010, 00:19 am
@charo:
a bit of a convoluted pc way of saying that the stirrers who arrived probably wouldn’t have the capacity or willpower to start their own blog.
my cynical opinion
10 Mar 2010, 00:22 am
@charo:
# 102
Perhaps the weakness of Capitalism?
Charo, I got to go, must be up by 05h30 tomorrow.
Just quickly, something completely different, here are the summarised findings on the Lobster study I promised you:
“West Coast Rock Lobster is primarily a predator feeding extensively on Ribbed Mussels. It’s remains were found as the major constituent in 97% of the rock-lobster stomachs examined. It also feeds to a lesser extend on sea urchins, abalone (!), crabs, kelp and polychaete worms”.
It does not mean that RL will not go for other stuff like “corpses/sewerage” etc as scavenging behaviour is well developed amongst them.
The bottom line is that as long as you dive for RL in areas where there are plenty mussels you are unlikely to become indirectly a cannibal
Cheers, nice chatting.
10 Mar 2010, 00:26 am
goodnight all, chat tomorrow
10 Mar 2010, 01:34 am
@Robzim:
We were at the beach
Everybody had matching towels
Somebody went under a dock
And there they saw a rock
But it wasn’t a rock
It was a Rock Lobster!
10 Mar 2010, 03:00 am
@Tacitus:
We already are beating the Boks regurlarly…whats your point?
10 Mar 2010, 03:13 am
Only reason the yarpies welcome the Argies into 3N/4N is that they won’t be the perennial cellar-dwellers of the comp. Argie will take over that mantle, like Italy in the 6N.
10 Mar 2010, 04:11 am
LATEST: Former All Black Sione Lauaki has been charged with assault following an incident in a Hamilton bar last Friday.
another one bites the dust. will it be another tap on the wrist this time?
10 Mar 2010, 06:02 am
@DonutDunning:
Yeah, and there are Piranha’s and bikini-whale’s as well.
B52′s?
10 Mar 2010, 06:11 am
@TheTackler: Your time is up bro! We’ve got the hang of the Sanzar comp now and has started to take our rightfull place in World rugby! It took along time for the Bulls to win a Currie Cup, but once they did…I for one believe them when they talk about a ‘dynasty’. If the Crusaders and the like don’t pay attention, the Bulls will have their grip firmly on that S? trophy! Sure, the odd anomoly exist but super dominance equates to 3N’s dominance. And now, with ARG joining in 2012, the travel burden will be more or less the same all round…
10 Mar 2010, 06:24 am
@BokiNZ: 112
Yes the core and style of a national team invariably evolves from a solid team. Crusaders, Brumbies and now Bulls.
10 Mar 2010, 06:27 am
Great to see the IRB stumping up with a few bob towards Argentina’ inclusion for 2012. Timing is good too, straight after the 2011 WC, so interest will be up there. Imperative to strike at the opportune moment. Also allows SANZAR time to plan the scheduling of matches.
Welcome Argentina
10 Mar 2010, 07:08 am
@BokiNZ:
TheTackler only believes in issues surrounding travelling if his team lose…
10 Mar 2010, 07:58 am
$2m US barely pays the wages of 5 quality test players in Europe / the current SANZAR. The IRB a tad stingy there then…. Can’t however wait for the Argies to join the frame, trust that they get sufficient assistance from the rest of the stakeholders and put sustainable processes up for long term Argentine rugby success. And also tread lightly around a certain John O!
10 Mar 2010, 12:36 pm
Tacitus, I’ll tell you one instance where having them in the competition will benefit me or any other average rugby supporting South African.
Its when Aus/NZ need 4 log points to take the tri nations from SA in the last game of the competition and Argentina manage to have a blinder ala the World cup opener and sneak a win or a draw.
I think the Argies are a much more formidable unit than the Italians and comparing them is an excersise in futility.
10 Mar 2010, 14:38 pm
Tacitus, you seem to be wiser then most. IF SA got knocked out of a world cup by Argentina then it would open peoples eyes a bit.
Argentina is already a strong rugby nation with alot of people playing rugby. They finished third in the last world cup but still people are saying they’re not being treated fairly. Personally I’d prefer to see the IRB put money into places like Uruguay, Russia, Georgia, Germany and other developing nations. Once they become competitive on the international stage then they’ve reached their goal.
10 Mar 2010, 16:28 pm
@phalanx: people are saying they’re not treated fairly because despite their sizeable rugby following Argentina hardly have any games every year. Last year they had 5 tests (4 of them away), by contrast the Boks had 12 tests.
10 Mar 2010, 20:31 pm
Speaking of Tri-Nations. Have any of you guys seen this???
From the BBC website
South Africa will field a team stripped of a host of home-based players when they face Wales in Cardiff in June.
Coach Peter de Villiers has confirmed only two players per Super 14 franchise will be picked for the squad.
The rest of the squad will be chosen from players exiled in Europe in what will be a pre-World Cup trial for them.
The World Cup holders’ coach said: “I would be skinned by the media if I didn’t take the opportunity to look at players based in Europe.”
The Saturday, 5 June clash at the Millennium Stadium comes just five days after the completion of the current Super 14 season.
De Villiers is unwilling to rely on his home-based players, especially ahead of a busy pre-World Cup season that will see the world champions play 14 Tests.
Instead De Villiers will focus his attention on the Tri-Nations campaign, which begins when the Springboks play New Zealand in Auckland on July 10.
606: DEBATE
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“Our focus will definitely be on the Tri-Nations this year, given that we play our first game of the tournament at the same venue where we’ll be based for next year’s World Cup.
“We’d be stupid not to focus on that game and, by extension, on the entire Tri-Nations tournament.
“I will take only two (contracted) Boks to Wales from each franchise, at most.”
The South African Rugby Union has a policy of not selecting players plying their trade abroad.
But De Villiers will overlook that and give the likes of BJ Botha, CJ van der Linde, Wikus van Heerden, Butch James, Jean de Villiers and Frans Steyn a chance to forward their claims for a World Cup place.
“By choosing overseas-based players for the Wales Test we won’t be putting the Springbok brand at risk,” said De Villiers.
“Instead, it will be an opportunity for us. We won’t have another chance to look at these players and at our depth again.
“I have to think about what will be best for the Springboks with a view to the World Cup, and I would be skinned by the media if I didn’t take the opportunity to look at players based in Cardiff.
“I’m loath to say it, but this could be a one-off trial for players overseas to push for a World Cup place.”
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