Pichot: Frogs showed fear

Pichot: Frogs showed fear

8 Sep 2007

Victorious Pumas captain Agustin Pichot said France looked “petrified” before the World Cup opener.

Pichot, one of nine members of Argentina’s starting XV who plays his rugby in France, twisted the knife into the Six Nations champions.

“That sort of look [of fear] is usual in the middle of a scrum, not before the first whistle,” he said. “But we can’t imagine the sort of pressure they are under as hosts playing in front of their own fans – that sort of thing isn’t easy.”

Pumas coach Marcelo Loffreda, who will join Leicester after the World Cup, praised his team for a courageous display.

“We are not the best technicians, we are not even the most physical, but we play with heart,” he said. “This won’t sink in for a while. We won’t know what we have done, because you never know the context, but this team has a hunger to write history.

“France have helped us to develop [our game], taking us in as their sons. We therefore offer the French our respect and thanks.”

France captain Raphael Ibanez said the 17-12 loss was a huge setback to the hosts, who now have to beat Ireland to reach the quarter-finals.

“It is a massive disappointment,” he said. “The Argentinian defence was fantastic, and they were able to slow down the ball.

“We still have three games to go in this group, and we will have to work even harder. The expectation on us for this first game was enormous, and we weren’t tough enough to deal with that.”


95 Comments

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  • 51.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 11:56 am

    Pik # 48

    For sure.

    I think Pichot is a main meneer. Very humble and playing for the love. How refreshing.

    I want to visit Argentina…that thought got bigger last night.

  • 52.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 11:57 am

    The only thing that was impressive last night about the French was their scrums…… the rest woeful.

  • 53.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 11:57 am

    Jinx,

    Yes I saw that in the news, it’s not correct, you guys should get this Norman Reeves from Durban to come and clean up the mountain and kick those skollies into touch! Offer him some sand as payment, then he can leave the Oppenheimers beach alone, hehee

  • 54.chch: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:00 pm

    50 groot,

    Yes, actually I meant to comment on that myself. Very good speech. He may have helped smooth over some future club relationships too :-)

    Actually when you look at teams like the Argies and Romanians you can see that we really do need these international (players from all over the world) type club comps to enable the medium level teams to maintain some top class players.

  • 55.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:00 pm

    Johnny 7

    Marcelo Loffreda the coach too had gravitas and composure when he spoke. Dignified and humble. Cool, detached and centred. They deserve respect and being part of the TriNations or 6 Nations.

  • 56.DonnerLeeu aka PKLeeu aka Katvis: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:04 pm

    GBS

    Happy birthday to uuuuuuuuuuu……da di dam dam…….!!!!!!!

  • 57.chch: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:04 pm

    You can’t say that the Argies didn’t put together some good running play … at the moment they have the best try of the World Cup!

  • 58.Jinx: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:05 pm

    Guys I’m off. Must do a bit of shopping…

    Lekkerness down the line bru…take care…

  • 59.DonnerLeeu aka PKLeeu aka Katvis: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:06 pm

    Pik….

    Die leeus gaan die nulle vreet vanmiddag….

  • 60.BMM: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:07 pm

    Did anyone notice how few times the scrum had to be reset compared to all the other games this season? Or am I just imagining it? (It was an 11pm kick off for me and I had to squeeze a few cold ones down before the match got going………….

  • 61.chch: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:07 pm

    Ingat Jinx

  • 62.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:09 pm

    PK, kan jy dans……… want jy kannie sing nie…..

    Hehehe

  • 63.Johnny7: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:09 pm

    Vjeels gheluk liewe grotes!!
    Mag jou span die katjies opvreet vandag.

  • 64.Johnny7: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:10 pm

    Cheers Jinx

  • 65.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:11 pm

    Dankie Johnny7……. die ouderdom rol jong.

  • 66.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:20 pm

    Jis alle rugbykenners.
    GBS204, jy nog hier ou bul?

  • 67.Staal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:21 pm

    GBS,

    Blessings met jou verjaarsdag! GAAN GROOT!

    59 Katvis,

    Jy het baie selfvertroue voor die game?! defnitief meer as ek! :lol:

  • 68.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:21 pm

    Hello ou Piet Verdriet…….

  • 69.DonnerLeeu aka PKLeeu aka Katvis: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:23 pm

    Hello Pietman en Staal

    Staal – nee jong ek weet nie van vanmiddag nie. Ek het eintlik die bulle gepick op superbru….die leeus speel nie goeie rugby op die oomblik nie. :roll:

  • 70.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:23 pm

    Dankie Staalman………. ek gaan ALTYD GROOT !!!!!!!!!

  • 71.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:24 pm

    GBS204
    Nogmaals geluk ou maat, jy kom nou nader na my, Katvis en Jinxie se kant toe, ek se.
    Het Walla jou al gelukgewens…heheheheh!

  • 72.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:25 pm

    Ek dog die game is op Loftus, nie?

  • 73.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:26 pm

    FFFFFFFFFFF@@@@@@kkkk vir daai ondersteboman….

    Dankie vir jou gelukwensinge…….. ek’s nog ‘n paar wille myle agter julle ou ballies……..

  • 74.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:26 pm

    Hello Pietman, laaaaank laaaas gepraat,

    Nee die game is op Ellis Parkie

  • 75.DonnerLeeu aka PKLeeu aka Katvis: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:28 pm

    GBS

    Voor jy jou oë uitvee is jy by ons – ons wag vir jou.

  • 76.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:29 pm

    PikSteal
    Dankie, dan het ek my pick verkeerd ingesit, ek dog dis op Loftus.

    Verder, alles goed jou kant?
    Jy nog nie weer lus vir daai boonste wereld se ‘snappers’ wat ons destyds so in die sout gerol het nie!

  • 77.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:30 pm

    PK,

    Ek’s 43 vasgevang in die lyf van ‘n 24 jarige……. hehehe

    Jy is 47 vasgevang in die lyf van ‘n 74 jarige…… hehehe

  • 78.Grizz: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:31 pm

    I have rarely seen a team in an international match as fired up as the Pumas were last night. Perhaps Jake needs to take a lesson in motivation from the Pumas Head coach????

  • 79.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:35 pm

    Pietman, ek “bank” op die Leeus om nie op die Parkie te verloor nie, gelukkig speel hulle net die Bulle en nie ‘n sterk span of so iets nie…hehehe Sal lekker wees as hulle wen…

    Praat van daai vis in sout, ou Johnnie van Port Nolloth is nog daar bo, het my gisteraand gebel na die game, toe beplan hulle juis weer so iets vir vandag, hel maar dis lekker

  • 80.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:36 pm

    Praat van die Pumas, ek onthou oorlede Izak van Heerden van Natal het destyds daar gaan afrig, toe die Argentyne nog n derderangse spannetjie was.
    Ons Saffas het hulle geleer rugby speel!

    As julle eendag in Buenos Aires kom, kyk daai telefoongids. Baie Van Heerdens, Geldenhuyse, Van Zyls en Van der Merwes daar wat nie n woord Afrikaans kan praat nie, almal afstammelinge van ons vorige afrigters vermoed ek.
    Daai Argentynse anties is n dankbare en n gewillige lotjie, en bleddie mooi ook!

  • 81.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:39 pm

    PikSteal
    Johnny van CU?
    Johnny van Port Jollie?
    Ek het baie daar op McDouggal’s Bay buite PN haarders getrek en kreef uitgehaal, toe ek nog GBS se ouderdompie was.

  • 82.Pik Steal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:47 pm

    Pietman, yip, hy’s van CU, hy maak die die vis so in die growwe sout verpak…

  • 83.Staal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 12:56 pm

    Manne – hiers nou so baie raggas op tv ek is skoon gerattle hier tussen die channels!

  • 84.DonnerLeeu aka PKLeeu aka Katvis: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:02 pm

    Staal

    Kla jy of brag jy.

  • 85.Skabenga: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:11 pm

    #78 Dont worry Grizz the Gees and passion is their bru…The team looks toooit ekse.

  • 86.Staal: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:18 pm

    84 Katvis,

    ek issie gewoond om so baie tv te kyk nie – so ek is rerig deurmekaar. Amper soos my team.

  • 87.Fern: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:20 pm

    Mirrag almal.GBS jy moet n mooi dag he vandag en geluk man.

  • 88.Ajay: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:28 pm

    Loffreda–”We therefore offer the French our respect and thanks……and Tony Spreadburys freezer is filled for life with prime Argentinian fillets……..”

  • 89.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:29 pm

    Dankie Varing!

    Manne, die skoondiere is nou hier……. so ons chat later……….. eishhhhhh, hulle moenie my rugga bedonner nie…….

  • 90.Flametop: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:30 pm

    Goie Dag

  • 91.Fern: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:31 pm

    sterkte gbs.

  • 92.AiDoc: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:37 pm

    The French live up to their past and choke again. Perhaps the Ayatollah Laporte will now keep his big mouth shut for a few days.

  • 93.Skabenga: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 13:38 pm

    Cheers Ouens and Ladies :) Enjoy the weekend of ruggers…

  • 94.mshiniwami: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 21:30 pm

    Congrats to the Argies again,I hate the way they played(destructive footy) but a win is a win especially for a nation which has been so ostracized by the rugby fraternity for years.The way Pichot said in the interview they “proved they exist” win the win against france was heartfelt and they deserve plaudits plus the rewards they so truly deserve(one to be part of a reputable competition-eg:3Nations)

    Good on ya Los Pumas!!!!

  • 95.skopskiet: Reply to this comment
    8 Sep 2007, 23:07 pm

    Laporte defiant after opening shock

    France coach Bernard Laporte has issued a defiant message that Les Bleus can “still play a key role” in the World Cup despite a stunning opening game defeat against Argentina.

    If France are to be crowned world champions for the first time, they will need to make tournament history with no team ever winning the competition after losing the opening match, but that is the challenge now awaiting Laporte’s players after Argentina triumphed 17-12.

    Pumas full-back Ignacio Corleto, who plays his club rugby in Paris with Stade Francais, scored an interception try that helped Argentina establish a 17-6 lead and four Felipe Contepomi penalties also played their part as Laporte said: “At least we got a losing bonus point. We won’t let our heads drop – France will still play a key role in this World Cup.”

    He added: “We were fragile, and we couldn’t cope with the pressure. Players didn’t shoulder that pressure – they were jittery on the field – and we didn’t hold the ball. The pressure was a big thing in the game. We didn’t play like we had done in the three World Cup preparation games (against England, twice, and Wales).”

    France must now effectively beat Ireland in Paris on September 21 to avoid pool stage elimination, and skipper Raphael Ibanez admitted: “It’s a big, big disappointment for the whole team. But we still have three games to go in this group, and we will have to work even harder.

    “The expectation on us for this first game was enormous, and we weren’t tough enough to deal with that.”

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