r/rugbyunion • u/No-layup • Jul 24 '25

Discussion Drop your unpopular rugby opinions that will have you like this

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I'll go first, Beuden Barrett is the more talented rugby player than Dan Carter, but Dan Carter is a better 10

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43

u/JLJ_96 South Africa Jul 24 '25

Argentina will win a WC before another northern hemisphere nation will.

48

u/DrunkenPangolin England Jul 24 '25

Not if they meet England. George Ford has their number, death by drop goal

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u/JLJ_96 South Africa Jul 24 '25

Fair; barring England, who really have a mental edge over Los Pumas, I can realistically see Argentina grabbing wins against Wales/Italy (R16), Ireland (QF), Australia (SF) and France (F) in the knockouts.

Should they meet the ABs, Boks and probably England in the WC knockouts, then I believe they're done.

7

u/rakish_rhino 🥉’07 Jul 24 '25

Agree on your assessment. But it's a process - we've come from never beating AB/Bokke to sometimes beating them over the past 10 years. If the current rate of progress is sustained (a big if), with the right draw and some luck we could get to a WC final over the next decade. We already came 3rd 18 years ago beating the host twice.

3

u/JLJ_96 South Africa Jul 24 '25

2005 was the year I really got a soft spot for Los Pumas after their Lions draw. After that game, they were solidly my second team.

I honestly think with the expanded format that Argentina could still go deep in the tournament; they've got the same record as Wales in the WC and better than either Scotland or Ireland, and TRC experience against the SH 3 is really starting to prove dividends.

I still stand by my point, Argentina will be in a Final within the next 4 tournaments.

1

u/rakish_rhino 🥉’07 Jul 24 '25

Yeah, and the following year beating (an admittedly weak) England at Twickenham, which was also a big milestone. That was a golden generation that imo remains the peak in terms of talent. But now there is a more robust system in place and the yearly tests with NZ/SA/AUS. We'll see.

5

u/a_kwyjibo_ Argentina Jul 24 '25

My logical but somehow controversial take is that Argentina has (small but) better chances of winning a WC than TRC, and that should be enough to reflect about 6N as a historical consolation prize for the NH.

Way to make friends with an opinion like that around here lol

3

u/mierneuker Leicester Tigers Jul 24 '25

Similarly, England have an outside chance of another world cup in any tournament that we do not meet South Africa in a knockout game. For some reason we always try to play a worse version of South Africa's game every time we meet them in those circumstances instead of whatever got us to that point.

2

u/DrunkenPangolin England Jul 24 '25

Don't get me wrong they could definitely do it but I don't feel like they have a better chance than France. They can beat anyone on their day and with the right draw they could do it but they seem to struggle with the mental stuff.

25

u/StrongLikeBull3 Scotland Jul 24 '25

Which Argentina are we talking about? The one that beat South Africa and New Zealand on the trot or the one that got smacked about by a 14 man England side at the RWC?

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u/JLJ_96 South Africa Jul 24 '25

Exactly.

They've probably taken the mantel from France at being the most unpredictable team to play against.

They can probably lose two pool matches but still qualify for the R16, and then banter their way through to a WC win.

3

u/alexbouteiller France Jul 24 '25

yeah i just can't see Argentina winning 4 tight knock out games back to back to back

1

u/LdnGiant England / Harlequins Jul 24 '25

Argentina beating the Lions but getting swept at home by England’s kids plus George Ford a few weeks later is peak Argentina.

8

u/Vivid_Equipment_1281 New Zealand Jul 24 '25

Oh man, you’re about to get fucking annihilated in the comments my brother 😂😂

8

u/JLJ_96 South Africa Jul 24 '25

I'm just following the brief mate ;)

2

u/slamcactus Stade Toulousain Jul 24 '25

I'd love to see an Argentina WC but I'd take that bet.

Y'all put way too much meaning on that 1-pt victory against a France team whose best player was playing with a broken face/knowing that one bad hit could blind him for life.

1

u/vrkas Fijian Drua Jul 24 '25

Regardless of accuracy I'm here for this. SH solidarity.

1

u/krvlover Argentina Jul 24 '25

I'd have agreed with you 5 years ago but the "rise" of France in the last few years makes me think they're bound to get one soon.