Argentina Australia at.... Twickenham?
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<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="570373" data-time="1460044810"><p>
I not sure thats 100% the idea.<br><br>
Its designed to make Argentina competetive, commercially viable & retain access to their players. So showcasing Argentina in the UK is a good thing in that its a step towards Argentina joining the cash train that is the now standard EOYT that NZ SA, & Aussie embark on.<br><br>
IE the Argies would very much like to become a permanant fixture playing some / all the 4 nations every Autumn. And then get the return fixture. And this is a good step towards that. It gives the Argies a chance to showcase their commercial value and their style of rugby. they get 50k at Twickers & produce a dazzling try fest the RFU will think "yeah... that might be a good team to play every year". They got a HUGE amount of press in the UK during the WC re the style they played & how great it was. Plus they can become a "warm up" team. EG pay for them to play the Lions at Twickers or Cardiff pre every Lions tour.<br><br>
Its all about reinforcing the commercial viablity of Argentine rugby & getting them more competive games, which is also the idea of bringing them into the RC</p></blockquote>
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They played the Lions before their last tour and played the BaaBaas last year. I think that would indicate that they're definitely on the radar. <br><br>
I would think that regularly beating SH opposition and perhaps even winning the RC would make them a more attractive brand than a one-off game against the Wallabies at Twickenham. -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="gollum" data-cid="570761" data-time="1460105970">
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<p>I get what you are saying, but its a million miles frrom the games their Tri Nations parttners are getting - and thats what Argentina need to aspire to. And Lions tours or at the very least Lions warm ups - Argentina being the go to team to play the Lions in the UK pre every Lions tour in exchange for a cut of the gate would be huge for them.</p>
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<p>For me, if I'm the argentine union I'm thinking "6 games in 16 years is shit, SA, ABs etc average 16 games in that period". So then its "how do I ghet up to say 10 in 16 years" and this exhibition is a great way of doing that, and raising their profile & getting an telly audience. Basically I have zero issue finding a logical reason why this game is happening & its fully in line with where Argie rugby need to be. </p>
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<p>nz have played at twickenham 9 times in the same period. 9 vs 6 is not wildly different or showing the massive bias to NZ as you claim</p> -
<blockquote class="ipsBlockquote" data-author="Catogrande" data-cid="570634" data-time="1460099795">
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<p> Georgia have improved out of sight in recent years but in these professional times you can't just say "Well Georgia are good now, we'd better play them". The International calendar is fixed years in advance.</p>
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<p>That's precisely what we did to play in Samoa after all the pressure which came our way, right up to John Key.</p>
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<p>That same pressure needs to be applied to the home nations and the lesser rugby nations in Europe.</p> -
<p>MR I really don't think you can compare Samoa and Georgia. Samoa are and have been for many years, a lot more competitive than Georgia. Then there is the relationship that NZ has with Samoa going back many years.</p>
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<p>However I do agree with the idea of doing more to encourage the likes of Georgia, although I can see how difficult this could be. Perhaps sending the Saxons would be a good first step?</p>
