Elisalex

I had spoken briefly with one of Felipe Contempomi’s brothers last night; he told me that both brothers are in an excellent mood and prepared for this new challenge. Everybody here is extremely anxious about this Friday’s match with France for the third place. But we are certain that this time they will win over the French team as they did in the first match of this World Cup. I know quite well Les Bleus, some of them are magnificent players, but our dear team, with their families and best friend around them in Paris are completely relaxed and they had recovered from the shocking circumstances of their defeat last Sunday. They know that they have to play much better to win, they are aware of the many mistakes that they made during that match and they are decided to overcome all that sad situation and play as they did from the very beginning, just using their brains and united in a solid team, as le Duc de Saint Simon said once “Il faut serrer les rangs pour trouver la victoire” they will play as one man, completely committed to reach a victory and stand in the podium next Saturday with England and South Africa. God bless them and I am confident that Our Lady will protect them, most of our Pumas are good Catholics and they went to Notre Dame de Paris for mass with wives, kids, parents, brothers and sisters, they just pray to our Lady to help them, if they deserve it, with the victory.

__________________
Elisabeth Sophia Alexandra Elisalex a great fan of our Argentine Pumas

Giza

I was on my feet cheering Argentina on Friday night! The future for your rugby looks bright indeed if your second victory on the trot over France is anything to go by. I hope to see Los Pumas in an expanded Tri-nations tournament in the near future!

Springbok supporter

Elisalex

For some people a third place might not be so significant, but for us in Argentina what our UNIQUE PUMAS did today at Parc des Princes, is almost to win the World Cup, we had forgotten the defeat of our team with the Springboks, for us and for each of our wonderful Pumas, starting with our magnificent captain Agustin Pichot, followed by Felipe Contempomi, Ignacio Corleto, Juan Martin Hernandez, Omar Hassan, Nicholas F. Miranda amongst all the team, is a victory without parallel in the history of Argentine rugby. The match started not so well for us, but in a matter of minutes our Pumas, with great courage, a strong mind, a soul clear as crystal, a big heart and the decisive determination to win, they make our dreams true. They smashed the French “Les Bleus” for the seventh time in the history of matches between both teams, and this times twice in Paris, their own home and the capital of France and with the stadium full of frenetic fans and not so many Argentines (some seven thousands stayed in Paris after the defeat with South Africa). But they play during the whole match with an almost complete control of the ball, our forwards were fundamental, each of the team knew that this was their revenge, after being beaten last Sunday in the semi-final. We are more proud than ever before of each of them and the whole team as well. Agustin is our King and Felipe Contempomi, like Ignacio Corleto and the others our princes, we have a new royalty in this republic, and they deserve it. They behaved during the whole World Cup as the ancient Greek heroes, and if the medal is just from bronze for us is like the best gold in the world. This evening thousands of Argentines had received the best present in many years, coming from our so arrogantly diminished by the Europeans, Aussies, New Zealanders and South Africans, the latter call us their little brothers in rugby, sooner or later we shall prevail and show them that we grow up in this magnificent sport. I have to mention very especially the British Press, the Irish and Scottish one, like their teams, they were the only ones to have a “beau-geste” for our Pumas shall be treasure in our hearts, thanks as well to Brian O'Driscoll, the current captain and Ireland's current all-time leading try scorer, one of the finest rugby players in the world, the centre Gordon D'Arcy; wing Denis Hickie, Denis Leamy, Paul O'Connell; out half and all-time leading Ireland points scorer Ronan O'Gara; and back row forward, David Wallace. Our thanks as well to the great Scottish team, just to remember some names of those who are great friends and play with some of our Pumas, the captain Jason White (a former Argentine Puma was Tom White), Lawson, Barclay, Rory and Sean Lamont (we have here a huge Lamont family who play rugby at Saint Andrew’s School and rugby club), Chris Paterson, Simon Webster and Taylor among many others. All of them had supported our team, in spite of being defeated by The Pumas, they deserve all our esteem and high degree of respect, they are true gentlemen and the know what fair play means in the best of its senses, they are great players and wonderful people. ][/size]COLOR="Blue"][/color][/font]

__________________
Elisabeth Sophia Alexandra Elisalex a great fan of our Argentine Pumas

Giza

Elisalex, not all South Africans are arrogant. I think you'll find that many of us admire Los Pumas and would love to see your team in a Southern Hemisphere tournament. They are a great side and I wish them well!

Elisalex

I forgot to remark in my yesterday’s comment, thanks as well to our dear Scottish team, just to remember some names of those who are great friends and play with some of our Pumas, the captain Jason White (a former Argentine Puma was Tom White), Lawson, Barclay, Rory and Sean Lamont a great and unique player and a good friend of many Pumas (we have here a huge Lamont family who play rugby at Saint Andrew’s School and rugby club), Chris Paterson, Simon Webster and Taylor among many others, thanks to the exceptional Irish team with whom we have close ties. All of them had supported our team, in spite of being defeated by The Pumas, they deserve all our esteem and high degree of respect, they are true gentlemen and the know what fair play means in the best of its senses, they are great players and wonderful people. I hope that some of the Scottish, Irish, English and perhaps some All Blacks and Aussies players will come to Buenos Aires, for the farewell match who will be organized by Agustin Pichot in a few months from now, he is giving up his rugby career to start a new professional life, enjoying much more his wife and daughters, you will be very much welcome in Buenos Aires, and you can take if for granted that we will show to you all our hospitality, take it for granted. By the way, what do you think about the final between England and the Boks, in my opinion was poor rugby lots of work for the defence, fullbacks and others, too many kicks and drops and mauls and a try, which wasn’t, what a pity for England that mistake, but I was hopping much more from Jonny Wilkinson ’s boys and where was the English coach, hidden for sure. The worst final ever, the real one was last Friday between our Pumas and Les Bleus, was spectacular, like an Alfred Hitchcock movie with lots of suspense and intrigue, but finally our Pumas had show their class and superiority. But well done Springboks, in spite of such awful match you won, and I must congratulate you. Yes we must play with other Southern Hemisphere countries soon if not Scotland, Ireland and England will propose us to play in Europe, we have a great temptation to accept such offer, considering our own background and that most of our players, some 70 % are playing in England, Scotland, Ireland and France, and as I said before many times they supported us much more than anyone else including our own national authorities who do not care about rugby, I mean our "dear President Kirchner" and his wife, for them rugby is still for the elite, in spite that we have almost twenty thousands players in Argentina right now.

__________________
Elisabeth Sophia Alexandra Elisalex a great fan of our Argentine Pumas

Giza

Although I was ecstatic about the result of course (still hoarse from cheering) I felt somewhat let down by the style of play. I can only speak for myself but I've never been a fan of aerial ping-pong. I know from reading dozens of threads that many people find this style of play compelling. Unfortunately I don't. I prefer to watch fast paced running rugby with mulitple phases being put together rapidly. I was impressed by the Springbok defence and line-out work but I was disappointed that our back line didn't run more with the ball the way England did, especially in the second half. To me, carrying the ball is what rugby is all about and that adds spectator value! I suppose what one must remember in the final analysis though, is that World Cup finals are different. They are incredibly tough, competitive, messy games because so much is at stake! Anyway, I congratulate the lads on a great campaign and bringing the cup home!