Argentina must brush up on rule variations

BEFORE last Saturday's match in Tucuman, Andy Robinson was asked where the match would be decided.

The coach barely bothered to think about the answer he already knew – discipline was the key. Even he could hardly have imagined how prescient that judgment would prove.

Robinson set his men the target of conceding just five penalties – they gave up six (and two free kicks). Argentina coughed up a whopping 16, which effectively lost them the match. Dan Parks was gifted nine kicks at goal and took six of them. His opposite number kicked two from two. Discipline indeed.

It was hard on Argentina, who have not played together as a team since last November's tour to Europe, and if they find it difficult to keep up with the IRB's multiple changes in law "interpretations", they are not alone.

The Pumas were stymied by the latest IRB tweak to the game which states that when a tackle is made the tackler must completely release the tackled player, even if the tackler is on his feet, before contesting for the ball.

Most of the penalties Argentina conceded last Saturday were for coming in at the side of the ruck, or for not releasing the tackled player.

The Pumas must alter their behaviour at the breakdown or risk losing next Saturday's match in similar fashion, presuming the French referee is as tough on the new ruling as Englishman Dave Pearson was at the weekend.