Former Springbok coach Jake White has questioned the standard of the Rugby Championship following Argentina’s continued struggles in the tournament.
In his latest column for AllOutRugby.com, White claims watching Los Pumas lose regularly in the premier southern hemisphere competition only serves to highlight the merits of a global season.
‘The Pumas joined the Rugby Championship in 2012 and in six seasons since being added they have won three matches and have finished last five times. The Jaguares were launched in 2016 and have won 11 of 30 Super Rugby matches, conceding 96 tries.
‘In a lot of ways, it has been worth it because Argentina get to play the top-tier nations every year, home and away. But in January of 2008, Argentina were ranked third in the world. Today, they’re 10th. You have to ask whether it’s been worth it for them – my guess is they’d answer yes and no.
‘They’ve continued to drop down in the world rankings because every time they lose they drop a place. So, in a way, they’ve shot themselves in the foot because their world rankings never go up.
‘And that’s where a global season has value in providing a balanced schedule and a true measure of where teams are in world rugby.’
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